Compare towns

Thomaston vs Willimantic 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 highest household income ($103k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (10%).

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.

MeasureThomastonWillimanticPlainfield
People
Population
7,492Lowest
18,096Highest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
41.5±7.7Highest
about the CT average
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
37±4.5
10% below CT
Thomaston and Plainfield 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%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
Thomaston and Plainfield 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%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,218±$15kHighest
8% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$282,600±$23kHighest
23% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
Thomaston and Plainfield 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
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$1,204±$70Highest
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,915Highest
11% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.9%±22Highest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Thomaston and Willimantic 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%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the CT average
23 minLowest
12% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
7.6%±3.7
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
10%±4Highest
CT: 16%
Plainfield and Thomaston 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
School district Thomaston School District — Plainfield School District
High school in town Thomaston High School — 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.