Compare towns
Plainville vs Sheffield 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 most people working from home (10.7%).
Sheffield has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
New Britain has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Sheffield | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
3,330Lowest |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
48.2±8Highest 24% above U.S. |
34.3±1.2Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sheffield 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% |
37.5%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% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$92,120±$31kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$58,613±$2kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$409,400±$32kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$223,600±$6kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,837±$1kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$1,253±$45 11% below U.S. |
| Sheffield and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 54% above U.S. |
$4,520Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,846Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Britain and Plainville 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Sheffield 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Southern Berkshire | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Mt Everett Regional | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
7.8Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.