Compare towns
Willimantic vs Suffield vs Plainfield vs Vernon
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 renters (65.1% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 | Willimantic | Suffield | Plainfield | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096 |
15,702 |
15,141Lowest |
30,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
| Vernon and Suffield 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Vernon 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Plainfield School District | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | Plainfield High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
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.