Compare towns
Thomaston vs Willimantic vs Plainfield vs Stafford
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).
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Willimantic | Plainfield | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492Lowest |
18,096Highest |
15,141 |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Thomaston and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kHighest 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$263,800±$22k 28% 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 |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Plainfield and Stafford 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,131 23% 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% |
41.5%±12.2 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% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Highest 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 |
1970 3 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 |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
11%±3.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Stafford 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | — | Plainfield School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | — | Plainfield High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.3 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.