Compare towns
Andover vs Mansfield vs Plainfield vs Middlefield
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 highest household income ($135k).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Plainfield | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
25,358Highest |
15,141 |
4,243 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
| Middlefield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Andover 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
| Andover and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
| Andover and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.