Compare towns
Washington vs Plainfield vs Upton vs New Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Plainfield | Upton | New Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
15,141Highest |
8,189 |
1,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
51.8±12.8Highest 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and New Preston 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 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,406±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$452,600±$43k 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 51% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,528Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.3%±28Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Preston and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
10.3 |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.