Compare towns
Plainfield vs Torrington vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 37).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Torrington | Upton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
35,547Highest |
8,189 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.9±1.8 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Torrington 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% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sterling 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% |
19.2%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Torrington 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% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,856±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,169±$43 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Torrington 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #132 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Torrington High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.2 |
— |
| 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.