Compare towns
Durham 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
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208 |
15,141Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Durham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 17.4%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.