Compare towns
Hartford vs Plainfield vs Bridgeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most renters (74.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Bridgeport has the most expensive homes ($275k 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 | Hartford | Plainfield | Bridgeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 121,127 |
15,141Lowest |
149,153Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +3.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.1±0.6Lowest 19% below CT |
37±4.5Highest 10% below CT |
36.7±0.7 11% below CT |
| Plainfield and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±1.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±0.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Hartford and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.2%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±0.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.1%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Hartford and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $46,411±$3kLowest 52% below CT |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
$58,685±$2k 39% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,600±$8kLowest 38% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$274,900±$9kHighest 25% below CT |
| Bridgeport and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,269±$25 15% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,450±$35Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,603 31% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,496Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±3.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgeport and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 26.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
21% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 25.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
42.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1955 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±1.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Plainfield and Hartford 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 | #146 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #148 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Judicial Centers | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District |
| High school in town | Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy | Plainfield High School | Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.9 |
10.3Lowest |
18.6Highest |
| 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.