Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sterling vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
3,676 |
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 |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% 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%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Ansonia 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Sterling and Washington 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— | $1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$5,446Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10 CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Ansonia 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
9.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% 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 |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 9.1Lowest |
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.