Compare towns
Windsor Locks vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Sturbridge | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,579 |
9,960Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor Locks 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sturbridge 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% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Windsor Locks School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Windsor Locks High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
7.7Lowest |
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.