Compare towns
Stafford vs Chaplin vs Plainfield vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ellington has the most expensive homes ($367k 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.
| Measure | Stafford | Chaplin | Plainfield | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,511 |
2,070Lowest |
15,141 |
16,455Highest |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Stafford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Chaplin 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16k about the CT average |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Ellington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 23% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Chaplin 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
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.