Compare towns

Thompson vs Johnston vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Johnston has the most expensive homes ($356k 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.

MeasureThompsonJohnstonPlainfield
People
Population
9,337Lowest
29,835Highest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
44.5±2.5
14% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Johnston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$91,866±$6k
14% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Thompson and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$355,500±$13kHighest
7% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,275±$132Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Johnston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,614Highest
48% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #32 of 38 in RI #131 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Johnston Plainfield School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Johnston Senior High Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
10.3Highest
10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.