Compare towns
Thompson vs Plainfield vs Canterbury
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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Plainfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
616Lowest |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.6±9.5 30% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury 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 16% above U.S. |
$63,500±$14kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Canterbury 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±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$309,000±$47k 7% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,292±$558Highest 9% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| 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 23% above U.S. |
$4,458Highest 43% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury 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 | — | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | — | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — |
| 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.