Compare towns
Andover vs Durham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Andover | Durham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
7,208 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Durham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36k about the CT average |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Durham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Durham 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Andover 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.