Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Derby vs Plainville
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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Derby | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
12,487Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest 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±$13k 15% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kHighest 29% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Derby 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 |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Derby 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 |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Derby School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Derby High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.7 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.