Compare towns
Middlefield vs Andover vs Plainfield vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Middlefield | Andover | Plainfield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
3,152Lowest |
15,141Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Middlefield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% CT: 42.5% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Durham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$376,500±$36k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Andover 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 |
$1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$6,554 about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
93.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Andover 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #43 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Andover School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.