Compare towns
Plainfield vs East Windsor 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).
East Windsor has the most people working from home (19.6%).
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 | East Windsor | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
11,213 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.9±5.4Highest 12% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| East Windsor 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% |
15.9%±3.6Lowest 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% |
21.9%±3.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| East Windsor 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% |
41.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| East Windsor 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 |
$96,250±$14k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and East Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$277,100±$26k 24% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
| Sterling and East Windsor 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 |
$1,459±$145Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,873Highest 27% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
30.4%±13.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Sterling 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% |
7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
69.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 15% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.6%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| East Windsor 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 | #129 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | East Windsor School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | East Windsor High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.