Compare towns
Guilford vs Plainfield vs Redding vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Cheshire has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Guilford | Plainfield | Redding | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,108 |
15,141 |
8,780Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 51.1±1.9 24% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Redding and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Guilford and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
60.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $515,800±$40k 41% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,717±$128 15% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Redding and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,744 32% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,755 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #15 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Guilford School District | Plainfield School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Guilford High School | Plainfield High School | Joel Barlow High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
11.6 |
| 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.