Compare towns

Windsor Locks vs Pepperell 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).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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.

MeasureWindsor LocksPepperellPlainfield
People
Population
12,579
11,663Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
42.4±3.3Highest
9% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Pepperell 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%
20.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Pepperell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks and Pepperell 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
$124,073±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,295±$238
8% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Lowest
15% below U.S.
Windsor Locks and Pepperell 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.
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Pepperell 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%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pepperell and Windsor Locks 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 #153 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Windsor Locks School District North Middlesex Plainfield School District
High school in town Windsor Locks High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
—
10.3Highest
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.