Compare towns
Plainville vs Thompson vs Upton 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Thompson | Upton | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
9,337 |
8,189Lowest |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
34.3±1.2Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%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% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$58,613±$2kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$223,600±$6kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,253±$45Highest 11% below U.S. |
| New Britain and Plainville 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,846 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Britain and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
7.9Lowest |
11.2 |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.