Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sutton vs Washington 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 most renters (26.4% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton | Washington | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,452 |
3,676 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Washington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Sutton 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Washington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Plainfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Washington 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #17 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sutton | Regional School District 12 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.6Highest |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.