Compare towns
Durham vs Plainfield vs Redding vs Harwinton
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Harwinton has the most kids (20% 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 | Plainfield | Redding | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
15,141Highest |
8,780 |
5,575Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| Redding and Harwinton 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% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Harwinton 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Harwinton 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% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton 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±$7k 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$129,643±$18k 35% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,503 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School | Joel Barlow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.