Compare towns
Washington vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Washington | Lyme | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676 |
2,303Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Lyme 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme 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% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest 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±$16k 6% above CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Lyme and Washington 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 |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Washington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,719±$1kHighest 16% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Lyme and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971Highest 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%±9 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Lyme 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 | Regional School District 18 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.