Compare towns
North Haven vs Plainfield vs Wallingford Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Haven has the highest household income ($133k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Wallingford Center has the most renters (39.6% rent).
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 | North Haven | Plainfield | Wallingford Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,336Highest |
15,141Lowest |
18,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.3Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.6±4.4 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| North Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| North Haven and Wallingford Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Wallingford Center and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,689±$7kHighest 39% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$89,959±$8k 6% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,200±$15kHighest 7% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$319,200±$11k 13% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,720±$127Highest 16% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,336±$102 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,964Highest 5% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,264 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±10Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.8%±11.4 CT: 52.6% |
| North Haven and Wallingford Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
7.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
25 min 7% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
12.9%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| North Haven and Wallingford Center 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 | #84 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Area Cooperative Educational Services · North Haven School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | North Haven High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
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.