Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Plainfield vs Windham vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Waterford has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Bloomfield | Plainfield | Windham | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,754 |
15,141Lowest |
23,961Highest |
19,673 |
| Median age | 48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
46±2.4 12% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
40.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,725±$14k 3% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$104,820±$9kHighest 9% above CT |
| Waterford and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,900±$11k 22% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$355,900±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,651±$153 11% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,876 27% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #139 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #80 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Learn · Waterford School District |
| High school in town | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Plainfield High School | Windham High School | Waterford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.