Compare towns
Plainville vs Salem vs Suffield vs New Britain
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).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Salem | Suffield | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
4,282Lowest |
15,702 |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +1.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT |
| Suffield 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
22%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.6%±1.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Salem 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT |
| Suffield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,253±$45 16% below CT |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$5,846 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Britain and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
18.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
45.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
22 min 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
8%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Salem School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | Suffield High School | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 10.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.