Compare towns
Plainfield vs Brookfield vs Sterling vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Brookfield | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
3,460Lowest |
3,629 |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Brookfield | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.