Compare towns
Plainfield vs Preston vs Sprague
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 youngest population (median age 37).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% 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 | Preston | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
4,821 |
2,962Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Sprague and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Sprague 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% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
| Preston and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
| Preston and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Preston School District | Sprague 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 |
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.