Compare towns
Mansfield vs Plainfield vs Thompson vs Willington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Plainfield | Thompson | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,358Highest |
15,141 |
9,337 |
5,575Lowest |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
33.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
| Thompson and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
| Mansfield and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,357±$116 9% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,419 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
13% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District | Willington School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.