Compare towns
Middlefield vs Middletown 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).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Middletown | Plainfield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
47,958Highest |
15,141 |
7,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3 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% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Durham 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% |
40.2% 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% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Middlefield 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 |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853 3% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middletown 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middletown High School | Plainfield High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.3 |
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.