Compare towns
Washington vs Griswold vs Plainfield
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).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% rent).
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.
| Measure | Washington | Griswold | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
11,530 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Washington and Griswold 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% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest 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%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainfield 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 |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Washington and Griswold 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 |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
$1,177±$65Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Griswold School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Griswold High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.