Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,629 |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer 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 |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.