Compare towns
Plainfield vs Suffield vs Washington 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 most renters (26.4% rent).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
15,702Highest |
3,676 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Washington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest 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% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above 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±$26k 11% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,709 29% 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% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Suffield 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | Regional School District 12 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
10.9Highest |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.