Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sandy Hook vs Sterling vs Putnam
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).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Sandy Hook | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,863 |
3,629Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Plainfield 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 |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
35 min 33% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.