Compare towns
Plainfield vs Prospect vs Ansonia 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).
Prospect has the most expensive homes ($355k median).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Prospect | Ansonia | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
9,458 |
19,033Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Ansonia 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% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia 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 |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Prospect 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 |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,476±$121 about the CT average |
— |
| Prospect and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$5,446 18% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Prospect 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.