Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Berlin vs Plainville vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k 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 | Berlin | Plainville | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
3,378Lowest |
17,551Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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 22% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Berlin-Boylston | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Plainville High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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.