What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Stafford has the most kids (21.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainville	Stafford
People
Population	17,551Highest	11,511Lowest
Median age	44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT	46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT
	Stafford 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%	21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	22%±3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Stafford 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%	3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Plainville and Stafford 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 12% below CT	$93,235±$16kHighest about the CT average
	Stafford 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±$14kLowest 31% below CT	$263,800±$22kHighest 28% below CT
	Stafford and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Highest 24% below CT	$1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT
	Plainville and Stafford 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	$5,131Highest 23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	41.5%±12.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Stafford and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest CT: 10%	7.4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5%	79.5%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT	1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below CT	26 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16%	11%±3.5Highest CT: 16%
	Stafford and Plainville 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	#96 of 149 in CT
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Stafford School District
High school in town	Plainville High School	Stafford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.