Compare towns
Preston vs Prospect vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Preston | Prospect | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821Lowest |
9,458 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7 12% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Preston and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Prospect and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749 29% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Preston and Prospect 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| 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.