What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Haven has the oldest population (median age 45.7).

Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	East Haven	Plainfield
People
Population	27,806Highest	15,141Lowest
Median age	45.7±2.5Highest 11% above CT	37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2%	19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2%
	Plainfield and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5%	16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5%
	East Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.8%Highest CT: 42.5%	15%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	Plainfield and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,628±$9kHighest about the CT average	$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,200±$12kHighest 20% below CT	$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT
	East Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,528±$132Highest about the CT average	$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,122Highest 23% below CT	$4,209Lowest 37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6%	39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6%
	East Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest CT: 10%	8.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	9%±2.1Lowest CT: 16%	10%±4Highest CT: 16%
	Plainfield and East Haven 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	#127 of 149 in CT	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	East Haven School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	East Haven High School	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.