Compare towns
Washington vs Wilbraham vs Plainfield
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).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Wilbraham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
14,572 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Washington and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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 98% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 51% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Wilbraham 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Hampden-Wilbraham | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Minnechaug Regional High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
14.2Highest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.