Compare towns
Willimantic vs Plainfield vs Vernon vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Vernon has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Willimantic | Plainfield | Vernon | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
15,141 |
30,577Highest |
9,490Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
| Vernon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT |
$79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
| Vernon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
| Groton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
$1,250±$98 16% below CT |
| Vernon and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,804Highest 13% below CT |
$4,411 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
18.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
45.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Vernon School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Rockville High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.