Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Middlefield 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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Killingly | Middlefield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867Highest |
4,243 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Killingly 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Middlefield 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr 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 |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 13 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.