Compare towns
Canterbury vs Plainfield vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Canterbury | Plainfield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
15,141Highest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
| Plainfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Plainfield School District | Columbia 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 Our Story | 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.