Compare towns
Mansfield vs Salem vs Plainfield
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%).
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Salem | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,358Highest |
4,282Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
40.9±5.4Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
| Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Plainfield 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% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Salem and Plainfield 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% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Mansfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 14% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Salem 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Salem School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.