Compare towns
Thomaston vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Ashford
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 most kids (20.5% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
7,208 |
15,141Highest |
4,226Lowest |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Durham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Plainfield 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Thomaston 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Thomaston 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 |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Ashford 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Ashford 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.