Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ludlow 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Ludlow | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
20,904Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Ludlow 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% |
27%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Ludlow 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. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Ludlow and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Plainfield 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. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Canterbury 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ludlow | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Ludlow Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.