Compare towns

Pelham vs Plainfield vs Whately

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).

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.

MeasurePelhamPlainfieldWhately
People
Population
1,335Lowest
15,141Highest
1,499
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+7.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±8.4
16% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
49.3±6.7Highest
27% above U.S.
Whately and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Pelham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,750±$24k
41% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$116,563±$15kHighest
44% above U.S.
Whately and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$447,600±$33kHighest
35% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$431,500±$22k
30% above U.S.
Pelham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,205±$560Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$977±$125Lowest
31% below U.S.
Pelham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,472Highest
140% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$5,027
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.7%±35.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
26.7%±29Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
32.8%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Whately 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 Pelham Plainfield School District Whately
High school in town None in town Plainfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3
—
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.