What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).

Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Haven	Plainfield
People
Population	55,351Highest	15,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT	37±4.5Highest 10% below CT
	Plainfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%	19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	West Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%	16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5%
	Plainfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Highest CT: 42.5%	15%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT	$76,993±$8kHighest 20% below CT
	Plainfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT	$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT
	West Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT	$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,941Highest 4% above CT	$4,209Lowest 37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.8Highest CT: 52.6%	39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6%
	West Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Highest CT: 10%	8.7%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%	73.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%	10%±4Highest CT: 16%
	Plainfield and West Haven 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	#120 of 149 in CT	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	New Haven School District · West Haven School District	Plainfield School District
High school in town	West Haven High School	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.6Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.