Compare towns
Columbia vs Plainfield vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Columbia | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
15,141Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Columbia and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest 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+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Columbia and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| 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.