Compare towns

Middlesex vs Thompson vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexThompsonPlainfield
People
Population
1,943Lowest
9,337
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Middlesex and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #130 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Thompson School District Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.9Lowest
10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.