Compare towns
Plainville vs Upton vs Washington 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).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Upton | Washington | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
8,189 |
3,676Lowest |
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. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
34.3±1.2Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%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% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| New Britain and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$58,613±$2kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$223,600±$6kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,253±$45Highest 11% below U.S. |
| New Britain and Washington 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,846 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Britain and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Washington 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #17 of 149 in CT | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Blackstone Valley | Shepaug Valley School | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.2 |
9.1Lowest |
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.