Compare towns
Middlefield vs Derby vs Plainfield
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 most expensive homes ($376k median).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Middlefield | Derby | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
12,487 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Derby 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Middlefield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Middlefield 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Derby School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
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.