Compare towns
Plainfield vs Willimantic vs Ansonia vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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 | Willimantic | Ansonia | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
18,096 |
19,033Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-1.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,446Highest 18% below CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
58.1% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1954 13 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9 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 | — | #142 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.