Compare towns
Plainfield vs Smithfield vs Thompson 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 most renters (26.4% rent).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Smithfield | Thompson | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
22,233Highest |
9,337 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Smithfield 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Thompson 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 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 7% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Thompson 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #130 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Smithfield | Thompson School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Smithfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.