Compare towns
Colebrook vs Sterling vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Colebrook | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
3,629 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Colebrook and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Colebrook and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Colebrook and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.