Compare towns
Ellington 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
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
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 | Ellington | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,455Highest |
3,629Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Ellington and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Ellington and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 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.