Compare towns
Barkhamsted vs Plainfield vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Barkhamsted | Plainfield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,678Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,544±$9kHighest 29% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $368,000±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Barkhamsted and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$114Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,354Highest 4% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted and Preston 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 | #63 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Barkhamsted School District | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.