Compare towns
Plainfield vs Chaplin vs Putnam vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
3,629 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 20% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| 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 26% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% 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 | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— |
| 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 37% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 min 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
— |
| 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.