Compare towns
Plainfield vs Suffield vs Vernon vs Sterling
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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% 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 | Suffield | Vernon | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
15,702 |
30,577Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Vernon and Plainfield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Suffield 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 26% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
— |
| Vernon and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,804 13% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Vernon 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | Vernon School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | Rockville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.