Compare towns
Plainfield vs Stoneham vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
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 | Stoneham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
23,355Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Stoneham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Stoneham | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.