Compare towns
Baltic vs Franklin vs Plainfield vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Baltic | Franklin | Plainfield | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,157Lowest |
2,004 |
15,141Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8 8% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Voluntown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.1% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Franklin and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Voluntown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141Highest 16% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Baltic and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Voluntown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
7.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Voluntown 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 | — | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Franklin School District | Plainfield School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.