Compare towns
Durham vs Guilford 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).
Guilford has the most expensive homes ($516k median).
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 | Durham | Guilford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
22,108Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
51.1±1.9Highest 24% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford and Plainfield 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% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Guilford 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 |
$137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,717±$128Highest 15% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$8,744Highest 32% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Guilford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Guilford 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #15 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Guilford School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Guilford High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.