Compare towns
Plainfield vs Salem vs Seymour
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Seymour has the oldest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Salem | Seymour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
4,282Lowest |
16,889Highest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
41.6±3Highest about the CT average |
| Seymour and Salem 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.3%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Plainfield 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% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.8%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Salem and Seymour 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
33.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Seymour and Salem 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$107,708±$15k 12% above CT |
| Salem and Seymour 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 |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$370,000±$19k about the CT average |
| Salem and Seymour are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,608±$86Highest 8% above CT |
| Seymour and Salem 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 |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,635 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.2%±17.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Seymour 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% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
74.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 19% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Salem and Seymour 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #105 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Salem School District | Seymour School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Seymour High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.