Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Ellington 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 homeowners (77.1%).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Lowest |
16,455 |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville 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% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Ellington 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% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Ellington 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 15% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest 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 min 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Ellington School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Ellington High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
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.