Compare towns
Middlebury vs Plainfield vs Redding vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Canton has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Middlebury | Plainfield | Redding | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,807Lowest |
15,141Highest |
8,780 |
10,144 |
| Median age | 44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
| Redding and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlebury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,400±$23k 30% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,434 27% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,232 9% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Canton 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% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1 CT: 16% |
| Redding and Canton 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 | #55 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 15 | Plainfield School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Canton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Joel Barlow High School | Canton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
11.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.