Compare towns
Middlefield vs Union vs Plainfield vs Beacon Falls
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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Union | Plainfield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243 |
944Lowest |
15,141Highest |
6,147 |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Middlefield and Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Beacon Falls 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%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Union 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% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 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 |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
| Beacon Falls 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 |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Middlefield and Beacon Falls 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 |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Middlefield 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% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Union School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.