Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Plainfield vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Salem | Windham | Plainfield | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
23,961Highest |
15,141 |
6,130 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
41.8±4.7Highest about the CT average |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,397Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.