Compare towns
Norfolk vs Chaplin vs Plainfield vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Goshen has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Norfolk | Chaplin | Plainfield | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
2,070 |
15,141Highest |
3,196 |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 17% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.4±3.6Highest 25% above CT |
| Goshen and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.3%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Norfolk and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16k 4% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$152,093±$27kHighest 59% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54k 17% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$482,400±$71kHighest 31% above CT |
| Goshen and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,250±$724 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Highest 9% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,292 20% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
31.8%±25.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
42 minHighest 58% above CT |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±5.9 CT: 16% |
| Norfolk and Chaplin 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 | — | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.