Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Windsor vs Plainville vs Thomaston
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%).
Windsor has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 Locks | Windsor | Plainville | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
29,468Highest |
17,551 |
7,492Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Plainville and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$104,725±$8kHighest 9% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Windsor and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$305,200±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Windsor and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
21 min 19% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #117 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | — | Windsor High School | Plainville High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.