Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Bethany vs Plainfield vs Suffield
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Bethany | Plainfield | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
5,288Lowest |
15,141 |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Bethany 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% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Plainfield 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% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield 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% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany 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±$13k 15% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Bethany and Suffield 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 |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
| Suffield 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 44% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
10.9Highest |
| 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.