Compare towns
Plainfield vs Salem 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 kids (19.4% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k 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 | Salem | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
44,795Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,140Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Salem | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.