Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sterling vs Woonsocket vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Woonsocket | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
43,521Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Woonsocket 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 5% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket 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 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Woonsocket 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. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 15.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.