Compare towns
Plainfield vs Washington vs Webster 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Washington | Webster | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
3,676 |
17,748Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Webster 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Webster 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% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Webster 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. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Washington 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. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
— |
| Webster and Plainfield 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. |
$4,709Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 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 |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 | Webster | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Shepaug Valley School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.