Compare towns
Wallingford vs Plainfield vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Wallingford | Plainfield | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
1,016Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Whitingham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,230±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Wallingford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95Highest 37% below U.S. |
$750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Wallingford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,355 40% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.