Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sterling vs Torrington
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 highest household income ($103k).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Sterling | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
35,547Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
| Torrington and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington 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% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
24.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Torrington 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 |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
| Plainfield and Torrington 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 |
$5,042Highest 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Torrington 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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 | #132 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Torrington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.