Compare towns
Prospect vs Redding vs Plainfield vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Cheshire has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Prospect | Redding | Plainfield | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458 |
8,780Lowest |
15,141 |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,755 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Plainfield School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | Plainfield High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.