Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chaplin vs Central Falls 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
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Chaplin | Central Falls | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
2,070Lowest |
22,701Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Sterling 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin 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. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Chaplin 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. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #38 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Parish Hill High School | Central Falls Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.5Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.