Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ware vs Warren 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).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Ware | Warren | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
10,048 |
5,009 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Ware and Sterling 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Warren 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Plainfield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Warren and Ware 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Ware 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 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 |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Ware | Quaboag Regional | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.