Compare towns
Clinton vs Plainfield vs Suffield vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Clinton | Plainfield | Suffield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
15,141 |
15,702Highest |
8,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 49% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Sterling 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.