Compare towns
New Haven vs Plainfield vs Bridgeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Haven has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | New Haven | Plainfield | Bridgeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 134,349 |
15,141Lowest |
149,153Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +3.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
37±4.5Highest 10% below CT |
36.7±0.7 11% below CT |
| Plainfield and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±0.8 CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±0.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.1%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT |
$58,685±$2k 39% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,100±$16kHighest 22% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$274,900±$9k 25% below CT |
| New Haven and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,488±$33Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,450±$35 about the CT average |
| New Haven and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,430 3% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,496Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±3.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgeport and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
21% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
42.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1955 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 minHighest 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16% |
| New Haven and Plainfield 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 | #145 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #148 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District |
| High school in town | Wilbur Cross High School | Plainfield High School | Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7 |
10.3Lowest |
18.6Highest |
| 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.