Compare towns
Marlborough vs Durham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Marlborough | Durham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,130Lowest |
7,208 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,105±$35k 48% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$438Highest 10% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Marlborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,397 11% above CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Durham 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 | #52 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Marlborough School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.