Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Putnam vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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.

MeasureWindsor LocksPutnamPlainfield
People
Population
12,579
9,292Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Putnam and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
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
$81,205±$13kHighest
15% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
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
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$272,100±$16kHighest
26% below CT
Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$3,860
42% below CT
$4,209Highest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
Work from home
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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 #109 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district — Putnam School District Plainfield School District
High school in town — Putnam High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5Lowest
10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.