Compare towns
Thomaston vs Preston vs Plainfield
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).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Preston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492 |
4,821Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Preston 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% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Preston and Plainfield 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Preston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 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.