Compare towns
Plainfield vs Thompson vs Windsor 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Windsor | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,337 |
1,065Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.8±6.4 15% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Windsor 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Sterling 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$115,563±$10kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Windsor 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 18% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$389,700±$32kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Plainfield and Thompson 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 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 |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor and Thompson 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District | — | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.