Compare towns

Prospect vs Redding vs Plainville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

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.

MeasureProspectReddingPlainville
People
Population
9,458
8,780Lowest
17,551Highest
Median age
46.8±3.9
14% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
44.3±1.5Lowest
8% above CT
Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±4.3
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%
CT: 42.5%
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
Plainville and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$126,394±$18k
32% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$84,343±$7kLowest
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,400±$21k
3% below CT
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$433
21% above CT
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
$1,126±$147Lowest
24% below CT
Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,504
about the CT average
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$4,798Lowest
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
4%
CT: 10%
6.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
Work from home
10.1%±3.2Lowest
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±2
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #50 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town None in town Joel Barlow High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.4Highest
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.