Compare towns
North Canaan 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
North Canaan has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | North Canaan | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,221Lowest |
15,141Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 35.7±5.7Lowest 13% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±7.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| North Canaan and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±3.3Lowest 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 | $71,976±$26kLowest 25% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$59kLowest 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,146±$152Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.1%±14.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| North Canaan 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 | #91 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Canaan School District | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.