Compare towns
Middlefield vs Windham vs Plainville 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 most expensive homes ($376k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Windham | Plainville | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
23,961 |
17,551 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Plainville 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% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20kHighest 4% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Middlefield and Plainville 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Middlefield and Plainville 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Plainville High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.4 |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.