Compare towns
Durham vs Plainville vs Suffield vs Guilford
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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Guilford has the most kids (20.8% 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 | Plainville | Suffield | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
17,551 |
15,702 |
22,108Highest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
51.1±1.9Highest 24% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Guilford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Suffield 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,717±$128Highest 15% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$8,744Highest 32% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
26 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3Highest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #15 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Suffield School District | Guilford School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainville High School | Suffield High School | Guilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.4 |
10.9 |
11.8Highest |
| 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.