Compare towns
Plainville vs Willimantic vs Plainfield vs East Haven
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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
East Haven has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Willimantic | Plainfield | East Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
18,096 |
15,141Lowest |
27,806Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
45.7±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| East Haven 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.8%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.5%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Haven 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$94,628±$9kHighest about the CT average |
| East Haven 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 31% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$294,200±$12kHighest 20% below CT |
| East Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,528±$132Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,122Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Haven and Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
74.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Plainville and Plainfield 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #127 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — | Plainfield School District | East Haven School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | — | Plainfield High School | East Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.