Compare towns
Middlefield vs Mansfield vs Plainfield vs Meriden
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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Plainfield | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
25,358 |
15,141 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Plainfield 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Middlefield and Plainfield 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 |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Middlefield and Mansfield 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #65 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Plainfield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
10.3Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.