Compare towns
Washington vs Chaplin vs Plainfield vs New Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
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 | Washington | Chaplin | Plainfield | New Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
2,070 |
15,141Highest |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.8±12.8Highest 26% above CT |
| New Preston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$76,406±$28kLowest 20% below CT |
| Washington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Chaplin and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 min 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.