Compare towns
Monroe vs Plainfield vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Monroe | Plainfield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
15,141 |
9,337Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
| Plainfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Monroe and Thompson 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.