Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sterling vs Thompson
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
3,629Lowest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Sterling 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±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Sterling and Thompson 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 |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson and Sterling 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 |
— | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Plainfield and Thompson 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 |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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 CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.