Compare towns
Hazardville vs Plainfield vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hazardville has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Hazardville | Plainfield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,022 |
15,141Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +49.4% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.2±6.3 5% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Hazardville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Hazardville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,893±$20k 14% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Hazardville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,900±$20kLowest 34% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,530±$299Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Hazardville and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,948Highest 26% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.1%±8.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Hazardville and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Hazardville and Preston 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.