Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Spencer 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 most people working from home (17.7%).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k 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 | Spencer | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
12,008Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Spencer 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest 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±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | David Prouty High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
9.9 |
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.