Compare towns
Crystal Lake vs Plainfield vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Crystal Lake has the most kids (24.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 | Crystal Lake | Plainfield | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,024Lowest |
15,141 |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,800±$35k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Suffield and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 47% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Crystal Lake 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 | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.