Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Windsor | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,292 |
1,065Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Windsor and Putnam 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%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% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$115,563±$10kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Windsor 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±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$389,700±$32kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | — |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%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% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 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 41% 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% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | — | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.