Compare towns
Suffield vs Waterford vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Waterford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Suffield | Waterford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
19,673Highest |
15,141Lowest |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
46±2.4Highest 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Waterford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Waterford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$104,820±$9k 9% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Suffield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$355,900±$14k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Waterford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,876 27% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±12 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.2%±2.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 149 in CT | #80 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Learn · Waterford School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Waterford High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.