Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Columbia 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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.
| Measure | Windsor Locks | Columbia | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
5,300Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Columbia 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%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest 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±$13k 15% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% 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 |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 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 |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Columbia School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 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.