Compare towns
Ellington vs Plainfield vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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.
| Measure | Ellington | Plainfield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455Highest |
15,141 |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Preston 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
10.3 |
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| 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.