Compare towns
Thomaston vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Ashford has the most expensive homes ($335k 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 | Hampton | Plainfield | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
1,647Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Hampton and Ashford 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 |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Hampton 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
90%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 |
1980 13 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 |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.