Compare towns
Plainfield vs Rutland 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Rutland has the most expensive homes ($463k median).
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 | Rutland | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,353 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Rutland and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Rutland and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Rutland 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% |
42%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$145,707±$28kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$462,800±$33kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,078±$170Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,657Highest 81% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rutland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Wachusett | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.