Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Killingly vs Plainville 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%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).

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 LocksKillinglyPlainvilleThomaston
People
Population
12,579
17,867Highest
17,551
7,492Lowest
Median age
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
44.3±1.5Highest
8% above CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
Plainville and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 18.5%
Plainville and Killingly 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%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30%
CT: 42.5%
34%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1
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±$13kLowest
15% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$84,343±$7k
12% below CT
$103,218±$15kHighest
8% above CT
Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$288,600±$15kHighest
21% below CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
$282,600±$23k
23% below CT
Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
Windsor Locks and Plainville 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
$3,922
41% below CT
$4,798
28% below CT
$5,915Highest
11% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
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%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
6.5%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
17% below CT
28 minHighest
5% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
17.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10.7%±2
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #109 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Thomaston School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School Killingly High School Plainville High School Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
11.1
11.4Highest
10.7
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.