Compare towns
Plainfield vs Pomfret vs Thompson 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 most renters (26.4% rent).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Pomfret | Thompson | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
4,317 |
9,337 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.9±3.7 12% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Sterling 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% |
17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Pomfret 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% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,476±$8kHighest 13% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Pomfret 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±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$409,100±$28kHighest 12% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,210±$300Highest 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— |
| Pomfret and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$5,903Highest 11% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret and Thompson 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% |
6% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.5% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Pomfret and Thompson 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Pomfret School District | Thompson School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.