Compare towns
Windsor vs Norwich vs Plainfield vs Southington
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).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Southington has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
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 | Norwich | Plainfield | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,468 |
39,973 |
15,141Lowest |
43,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
| Southington and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich 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% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Southington and Windsor 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% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Southington and Windsor 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 |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$373,800±$10kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,472±$77 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,351 19% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,206Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Southington 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Windsor High School | Norwich Free Academy | Plainfield High School | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
10.3 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.