Compare towns
Wethersfield vs Crystal Lake vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wethersfield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Crystal Lake has the most kids (24.5% under 18).
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 | Wethersfield | Crystal Lake | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,250Highest |
2,024Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.4±1.5 6% above CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Crystal Lake and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,806±$12k 32% above CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Crystal Lake and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Crystal Lake and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,370±$150Highest 8% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Wethersfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$7,146 8% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Wethersfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Wethersfield and Crystal Lake 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Wethersfield High School | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.