Compare towns

Madison vs Plainfield vs Plainville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureMadisonPlainfieldPlainville
People
Population
17,616Highest
15,141Lowest
17,551
Median age
51.9±1.9Highest
26% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
44.3±1.5
8% above CT
Kids under 18
18.1%±2.2
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Plainfield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
Madison and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
72.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
Plainville and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$167,442±$16kHighest
75% above CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
$84,343±$7k
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$583,900±$30kHighest
59% above CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,025±$741Highest
36% above CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,126±$147Lowest
24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,843Highest
33% above CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
$4,798
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44%±12.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4
CT: 52.6%
Madison and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%Highest
CT: 10%
6.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
21 minLowest
20% below CT
Work from home
30.2%±5.3Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±2
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #7 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT
School district Madison School District Plainfield School District Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Daniel Hand High School Plainfield High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
10.3
11.4Highest
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.