Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sterling vs Hampton vs Ansonia
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).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% 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 | Sterling | Hampton | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
3,629 |
1,647Lowest |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Hampton 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia 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±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Hampton 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±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Hampton and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— | $1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
| Ansonia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$5,446Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | — | 12.2Highest |
| 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.