Compare towns
Wethersfield vs Windsor Locks vs Plainville vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wethersfield has the highest household income ($127k).
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Newington has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wethersfield | Windsor Locks | Plainville | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,250 |
12,579Lowest |
17,551 |
30,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.4±1.5 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
45.3±1.7Highest 10% above CT |
| Newington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
21.2%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Newington and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
40% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Newington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$102,884±$6k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $324,600±$11kHighest 12% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$310,400±$9k 15% below CT |
| Wethersfield and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,524±$107Highest about the CT average |
| Newington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$6,321 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.9%±2.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
6.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
78.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 minHighest 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
21 min 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Wethersfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #87 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — |
| High school in town | Wethersfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainville High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.