Compare towns
Thompson vs Townsend 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 oldest population (median age 54.1).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Townsend | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
9,100Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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 12% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | North Middlesex | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | North Middlesex Regional | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.