What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgeport has the most renters (57.2% rent).

Plainville has the most homeowners (67.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgeport	Plainville
People
Population	149,153Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT	44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT
Kids under 18	20.9%±0.8Highest CT: 20.2%	15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%	30%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1%	6.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Bridgeport and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT	$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,900±$9kHighest 25% below CT	$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT
	Bridgeport and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,450±$35Highest about the CT average	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,496Highest about the CT average	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6%	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line	21%Highest CT: 10%	6.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	67.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 15% above CT	21 minLowest 20% below CT
Work from home	7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16%	10.7%±2Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#148 of 149 in CT	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Central High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	18.6Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.