Compare towns
East Haven vs Plainfield vs Branford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Haven has the most homeowners (74.6%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Branford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
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 | East Haven | Plainfield | Branford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,806 |
15,141Lowest |
28,217Highest |
| Median age | 45.7±2.5 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.2±2.1Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest 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%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest 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±$9k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$105,225±$7kHighest 10% above CT |
| Branford and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,200±$12k 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$401,200±$21kHighest 9% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,528±$132 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,565±$111Highest 5% above CT |
| Branford and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,122 23% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,575Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±9 CT: 52.6% |
| East Haven and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
69.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Branford and Plainfield 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 | #94 of 149 in CT |
| School district | East Haven School District | Plainfield School District | Branford School District |
| High school in town | East Haven High School | Plainfield High School | Branford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.0 |
| 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.