Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Sterling vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 41.4).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Plainville has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
8,183Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sterling 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Wachusett | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.