Compare towns
Windsor vs Chester vs Plainfield vs North Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
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 | Windsor | Chester | Plainfield | North Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,468Highest |
3,825Lowest |
15,141 |
24,336 |
| Median age | 43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.7±1.3 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
| North Haven and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$393,200±$15k 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,681±$62 13% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,720±$127Highest 16% above CT |
| North Haven and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,351 19% below CT |
$6,364 4% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,964Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±10 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and North Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 min 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Chester and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #84 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Chester School District | Plainfield School District | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District |
| High school in town | Windsor High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | North Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.