Compare towns
Griswold 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
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Griswold | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,530 |
15,141Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Griswold and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 17.8%±3.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Griswold and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | $78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
| Sterling and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$65Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,628Highest 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Griswold School District | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Griswold High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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| 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.