Compare towns
Norwich 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
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Norwich | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,973Highest |
15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
| Sterling and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$11kLowest 34% 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 | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.2%±2Lowest 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Norwich Free Academy | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.