Compare towns
Plainfield vs Pembroke 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 youngest population (median age 37).
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k median).
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 | Pembroke | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
18,382Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±3.3 17% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Pembroke 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% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Pembroke 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% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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. |
$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,585Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke 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 | #82 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Pembroke | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Pembroke High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.