Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam vs Uxbridge 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 youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Uxbridge has the most expensive homes ($441k 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 | Putnam | Uxbridge | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,292 |
14,473 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.7±2.8 7% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Uxbridge 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Uxbridge 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Uxbridge 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Uxbridge 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$124,725±$7kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$441,100±$25kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,555±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Uxbridge 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 | #183 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Uxbridge | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Uxbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.