Compare towns
Stepney vs Madison vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stepney has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Stepney | Madison | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
17,616Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Madison and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Madison and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Stepney and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Madison School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Daniel Hand High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.