Compare towns
Canterbury vs Preston vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (14.7%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Preston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,124 |
4,821Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Canterbury and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest 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+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Preston 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% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% 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 | $4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Preston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| 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.