What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Canaan has the most kids (26.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Canaan	Plainfield
People
Population	3,221Lowest	15,141Highest
Median age	35.7±5.7Lowest 13% below CT	37±4.5Highest 10% below CT
	Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.5%±7.6Highest CT: 20.2%	19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	North Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5%	16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5%
	Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Highest CT: 42.5%	15%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,976±$26kLowest 25% below CT	$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT
	Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$59kLowest 27% below CT	$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT
	Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,146±$152Lowest 23% below CT	$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT
	Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,893Lowest 41% below CT	$4,209Highest 37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.1%±14.3Lowest CT: 52.6%	39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6%
	Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest CT: 10%	8.7%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.7%Lowest CT: 66.5%	73.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 15% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	12.1%±5.3Highest CT: 16%	10%±4Lowest CT: 16%
	North Canaan 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	#91 of 149 in CT	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	North Canaan School District	Plainfield School District
High school 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

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.