Compare towns
Tolland vs Plainfield vs New Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
New Fairfield has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
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 | Tolland | Plainfield | New Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,606 |
15,141Highest |
13,584Lowest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
42.9±3.5Highest 4% above CT |
| New Fairfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.1%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Fairfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| New Fairfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| New Fairfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$137,647±$14kHighest 44% above CT |
| New Fairfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,500±$21k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$484,800±$17kHighest 32% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$119 13% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,896±$280Highest 27% above CT |
| New Fairfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,403 11% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$8,224Highest 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
43.2%±17.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
42 minHighest 60% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Tolland and New Fairfield 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 | #60 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #49 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Tolland School District | Plainfield School District | New Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | Tolland High School | Plainfield High School | New Fairfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.