Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sturbridge vs Killingly 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).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sturbridge | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
9,960 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Killingly 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Killingly 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 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 |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.