Compare towns
Plainfield vs Hardwick vs Sterling vs Putnam
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 youngest population (median age 37).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
2,684Lowest |
3,629 |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Putnam 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Quabbin | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.