Compare towns
Springfield 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
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Springfield | Thompson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
9,337Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 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 | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Springfield | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
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.