Compare towns
Durham vs Middletown 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).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Middletown | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
47,958Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest 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%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Durham and Plainfield 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% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middletown and Durham 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% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middletown 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Middletown 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.