Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Norwalk vs Plainfield
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Norwalk | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579Lowest |
92,187Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Norwalk 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% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks and Norwalk 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% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk 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 |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Norwalk 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% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Norwalk 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.