Compare towns
Preston vs Thomaston vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Preston | Thomaston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
7,492 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Preston and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Preston and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 29% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Thomaston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.