Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hampton vs Franklin 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Wauregan has the most renters (39.4% rent).
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 | Hampton | Franklin | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
1,647 |
2,004 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +27.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Wauregan 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
18.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Franklin 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 |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Hampton and Franklin 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 |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Franklin and Hampton 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 |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,254±$476 16% below CT |
| Hampton 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 |
$4,364Highest 34% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
60.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Plainfield 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 | Hampton School District | Franklin School District | — |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.