Compare towns
Hebron vs Plainfield vs Sterling vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Hebron | Plainfield | Sterling | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,157 |
15,141Highest |
3,629Lowest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 10% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Hebron and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,500±$23kHighest 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
| Hebron and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,800±$15kHighest 5% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
| Hebron and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$241Highest 10% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
— | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,263Highest 24% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hebron and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 19 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
| Hebron and Columbia 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 | #28 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | RHAM High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.