Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Ellington 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).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Ellington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Lowest |
16,455Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington 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% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington 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% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington 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 |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Ellington 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 |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Ellington 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Ellington School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Ellington High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
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.