Compare towns
Plainfield vs Colebrook vs Plainville 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).
Colebrook has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Colebrook | Plainville | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
1,494Lowest |
17,551Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Plainville 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% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Colebrook and Sterling 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 |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Colebrook and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Colebrook and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
34 min 29% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Plainville 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Colebrook School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.