Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Hanson vs Plainville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).

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.

MeasureWindsor LocksHansonPlainville
People
Population
12,579
10,660Lowest
17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Plainville and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hanson 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainville and Hanson 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
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
$132,200±$10kHighest
64% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,800±$14k
22% below U.S.
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$1,126±$147Lowest
20% below U.S.
Hanson 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
18% above U.S.
$6,402Highest
105% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #109 of 149 in CT #149 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District Whitman-Hanson Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School Whitman Hanson Regional Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
14.7Highest
11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.