Compare towns
Calais vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Calais | Plainfield | Middlesex | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
15,141Highest |
1,943 |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.7±6.1 about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$60,313±$10kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$214,100±$37kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,317±$126 7% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,668Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Marshfield 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.