Compare towns
Plainfield vs Thompson vs Ansonia 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% 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 | Thompson | Ansonia | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
9,337 |
19,033Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Ansonia 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% |
21.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Thompson 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 |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Thompson and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,446Highest 18% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.