Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chaplin vs Douglas vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Plainfield | Chaplin | Douglas | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,207 |
5,124 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Chaplin 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Douglas | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Parish Hill High School | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
7.5 |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.