Compare towns
Plainville vs Dedham vs Southington
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 most affordable homes ($254k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Southington has the most homeowners (81.1%).
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 | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
25,237 |
43,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45±1.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Southington and Dedham 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% |
18.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Southington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Southington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$124,309±$9k 54% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$373,800±$10k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,472±$77 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,206 99% 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% |
43.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Southington 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Dedham | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Dedham High | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.