Compare towns
New Haven vs Plainfield vs East Haven
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 renters (71.6% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
East Haven has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | East Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 134,349Highest |
15,141Lowest |
27,806 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -4.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
45.7±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and Plainfield 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.5%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Haven and Plainfield 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% |
25.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$94,628±$9kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$294,200±$12kHighest 20% below CT |
| East Haven and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,488±$33 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,528±$132Highest about the CT average |
| East Haven and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,430Highest 3% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,122 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±3.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Haven 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% CT: 10% |
7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
74.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.1Lowest 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 | #127 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Wilbur Cross High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.