Compare towns

Middlefield vs Prospect 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 oldest population (median age 51.6).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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.

MeasureMiddlefieldProspectPlainfield
People
Population
4,243Lowest
9,458
15,141Highest
Median age
51.6±1.9Highest
26% above CT
46.8±3.9
14% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Middlefield and Prospect 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%
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
Prospect 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%
24.5%±4.3
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Middlefield and Prospect 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%
40.3%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
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
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Prospect and Middlefield 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
$355,400±$21k
3% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
Middlefield and Prospect 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
$1,800±$433
21% above CT
$1,204±$70Lowest
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,853Highest
3% above CT
$6,504
about the CT average
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±52.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Middlefield and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%
CT: 10%
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
CT: 66.5%
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
28 minHighest
4% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
10.9%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
10.1%±3.2
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Middlefield and Prospect 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 #50 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Regional School District 16 Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.3
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.