Compare towns
Willington vs Hampton vs Plainfield vs Crystal Lake
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Willington | Hampton | Plainfield | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575 |
1,647Lowest |
15,141Highest |
2,024 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.9±7.6 19% above CT |
| Hampton and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
| Crystal Lake and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,357±$116Highest 9% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Willington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419 18% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Willington School District | Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.