Compare towns
Plainville vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
32,459 |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
34.3±1.2Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Needham 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$58,613±$2kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$223,600±$6kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,253±$45 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,846 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | — | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 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.