Compare towns

Whately vs Plainfield vs New Braintree

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
New Braintree has the most kids (20% under 18).

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.

MeasureWhatelyPlainfieldNew Braintree
People
Population
1,499
15,141Highest
973Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-0.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±6.7Highest
27% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
47.8±4.6
23% above U.S.
Whately and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
20%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
New Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
New Braintree and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,563±$15kHighest
44% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$99,500±$8k
23% above U.S.
Whately and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,500±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$408,800±$27k
23% above U.S.
Whately and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$977±$125Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,484±$316Highest
5% above U.S.
New Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,027
61% above U.S.
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$5,508Highest
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.7%±29Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
51.4%±51.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
New Braintree and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
Work from home
20.4%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
7.4%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Whately 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 — #131 of 149 in CT —
School district Whately Plainfield School District Quabbin
High school in town None in town Plainfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
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.