Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chaplin vs Bantam vs Wauregan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Bantam has the most renters (50.9% rent).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Chaplin | Bantam | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
2,070 |
810Lowest |
1,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -5.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+27.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
47.2±15.7Highest 15% above CT |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Bantam and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±6.5 CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bantam and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest 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 | $76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
— | $79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Chaplin and Wauregan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$317,700±$40kHighest 13% below CT |
$262,700±$15k 28% below CT |
| Bantam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,254±$476 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Wauregan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$4,524Highest 32% below CT |
$3,984 40% below CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bantam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
60.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9 CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Bantam 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 | Plainfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | — |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Parish Hill High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.