Compare towns
Salisbury vs Plainville vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Canaan has the most homeowners (83.8%).
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 | Salisbury | Plainville | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,224 |
17,551Highest |
1,175Lowest |
| Median age | 44.2±9.9Lowest 8% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
54.2±3.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±6.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.5%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,256±$26kHighest 30% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$89,632±$25k 6% below CT |
| Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$469,400±$33k 28% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,830±$307 23% above CT |
| Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,125 23% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,331Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
16%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1944Lowest 23 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below CT |
21 minHighest 20% below CT |
17 minLowest 37% below CT |
| Work from home | 28%±8 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
29.2%±13.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Canaan and Salisbury 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 | #19 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Salisbury School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Housatonic Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.