Compare towns
Madison vs Plainville vs Plainfield
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%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Madison | Plainville | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,616Highest |
17,551 |
15,141Lowest |
| Median age | 51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% 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 |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Madison School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Daniel Hand High School | Plainville High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.