Compare towns
Columbia vs Durham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Columbia | Durham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
7,208 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Columbia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Durham and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Durham 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.