Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam 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 youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
7,120 |
9,337 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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 CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 20% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Thompson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Thompson School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | 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.