Compare towns
Lisbon vs Middlefield 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
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Lisbon | Middlefield | Plainfield | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211Lowest |
4,243 |
15,141Highest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Middlefield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Middlefield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Middlefield 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.