Compare towns
Plainfield vs Quinebaug vs Windham vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Quinebaug | Windham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
1,193Lowest |
23,961Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Windham 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15% CT: 42.5% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$105,181±$36kHighest 10% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Quinebaug 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 26% below CT |
$237,800±$66k 35% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield and Windham 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 |
$3,703Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,633Highest 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Quinebaug 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.