Compare towns
Thompson vs Franklin vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Franklin | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
2,004Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Franklin and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Franklin and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$4,209Highest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Franklin School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.