Compare towns
Wolcott vs Plainville vs Watertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Watertown has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Wolcott | Plainville | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,279Lowest |
17,551 |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
46.3±2.9Highest 13% above CT |
| Watertown and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Wolcott and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Watertown and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Wolcott and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$333,500±$16kHighest 9% below CT |
| Watertown and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
| Wolcott and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,799 13% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,014Highest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Watertown and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 min 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Wolcott and Plainville 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Wolcott High School | Plainville High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.