Compare towns
Middlefield vs Canton 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).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Canton | Plainfield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
10,144 |
15,141Highest |
3,347Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
47.9±5.4 17% above CT |
| Middlefield and Durham 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% |
22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
15%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Plainfield 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% |
23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Canton 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% |
57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 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 | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
| Durham and Canton 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 |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
| Durham and Canton 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 |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,625±$1k 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,107 7% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20%±6.7 CT: 16% |
| Canton 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Canton School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.