Compare towns
Plainfield vs Oakham vs Sterling
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
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 | Oakham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
1,639Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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 5% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Oakham 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. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Quabbin | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.