Compare towns
Durham vs Chaplin vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Durham | Chaplin | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208 |
2,070Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Durham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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 | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Chaplin 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
7.5Lowest |
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.


