Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield vs Middlebury vs Prospect
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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Plainfield | Middlebury | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
15,141Highest |
7,807 |
9,458 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
| Prospect and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Middlebury and Prospect 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlebury 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
| Durham and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 5% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middlebury 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 | #55 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 15 | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.