What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainfield	Sterling
People
Population	15,141Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.	51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sterling 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%	48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	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 5% below U.S.	$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.	$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.	$6,757Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sterling 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 U.S.: 12.5%	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±6.2Highest 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	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Plainfield School District	Wachusett
High school in town	Plainfield High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.