Compare towns
Hanson vs Plainfield vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($513k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Hanson | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
15,141Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44±4.3Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Hanson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $119,211±$24kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Highest 106% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.