Compare towns
Plainville vs Prospect vs Willimantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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 | Prospect | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
9,458Lowest |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Prospect 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 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Plainville and Prospect 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Regional School District 16 | — |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.