Compare towns
Pomfret vs Washington vs Plainfield vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Pomfret | Washington | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,317 |
3,676Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Washington and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,100±$28k 12% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,210±$300 19% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 11% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Salem 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.