Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chester vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Chester | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
3,825Lowest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Chester and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury 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 20% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Chester and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Chester and Canterbury 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Chester School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| 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.