Compare towns
Plainfield vs Thomaston vs Willimantic vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Thomaston | Willimantic | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
7,492 |
18,096Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
| Canterbury and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Thomaston 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% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Thomaston and Canterbury 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 |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,037±$147 30% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | — | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Thomaston School District | — | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Thomaston High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.