Compare towns
Plainfield vs Derby 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).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Derby | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
12,487 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Derby 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 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Derby 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% 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±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Derby School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.