Compare towns
Reading vs Thompson vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Reading | Thompson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
9,337Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Reading | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.