Compare towns
Barkhamsted vs Plainfield vs Thompson vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Goshen has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Barkhamsted | Plainfield | Thompson | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,678 |
15,141Highest |
9,337 |
3,196Lowest |
| Median age | 50.2±3.3 22% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
51.4±3.6 25% above CT |
| Thompson and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.3%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
56.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,544±$9k 29% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$152,093±$27kHighest 59% above CT |
| Goshen and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $368,000±$15k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$482,400±$71kHighest 31% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$114 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,250±$724Highest 16% below CT |
| Goshen and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,354Highest 4% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,292 20% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
31.8%±25.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
4.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
88.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
42 minHighest 58% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
13.4%±5.9 CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted and Goshen 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 | #63 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Barkhamsted School District | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.