Compare towns
Plainville vs Dedham vs New Britain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
New Britain has the most renters (54.9% 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 | Plainville | Dedham | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
25,237 |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
34.3±1.2Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Britain and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$58,613±$2kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$223,600±$6kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,253±$45 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,846 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Dedham | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Dedham High | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.