Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Needham vs Plainfield
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Lowest |
32,459Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Needham 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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 about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Needham | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Needham High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.