Compare towns
Mansfield vs Middletown vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Middletown | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,358 |
47,958Highest |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
38.1±1.5Highest 7% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
| Middletown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$79,438±$6kHighest 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Middletown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727 14% below CT |
$6,412Highest 3% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
12% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Middletown High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.