Compare towns
Plainfield vs Leyden vs Middlesex
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 ($318k median).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Leyden | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
637Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,651Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.