Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Harwinton vs Plainfield vs Thomaston
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 people working from home (17.7%).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Harwinton | Plainfield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,579 |
5,575Lowest |
15,141Highest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
46.1±4.3Highest 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Harwinton and Thomaston 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% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Harwinton 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% |
22.1%±3.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Harwinton and Thomaston 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% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton 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 |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Harwinton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$352,100±$16kHighest 4% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Harwinton 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 |
$5,503 17% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Harwinton 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 | #34 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 10 | Plainfield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.