Compare towns

Winchendon vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureWinchendonWindsor LocksPlainfield
People
Population
10,440Lowest
12,579
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.6±1.9
about the U.S. average
41.4±2.6Highest
6% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Windsor Locks and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Winchendon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor Locks and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,690±$14kLowest
6% below U.S.
$81,205±$13kHighest
about the U.S. average
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,800±$19kHighest
about the U.S. average
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,255±$163
11% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
Windsor Locks and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,780
21% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,209Highest
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±17.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Winchendon and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.2%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windsor Locks and Winchendon 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 #269 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Winchendon Windsor Locks School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Murdock High School Windsor Locks High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Highest
8.9Lowest
10.3
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.