Compare towns
Thomaston vs Chaplin vs Plainfield vs Somers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Somers has the most expensive homes ($396k 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 | Thomaston | Chaplin | Plainfield | Somers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
2,070Lowest |
15,141Highest |
10,308 |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.1±2.6 5% above CT |
| Chaplin and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Somers and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$124,705±$15kHighest 30% above CT |
| Somers and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$395,800±$21kHighest 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,184±$346 20% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±13.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
16.2%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Somers 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #66 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Somers School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | Somers High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
7.5Lowest |
10.3 |
7.7 |
| 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.