Compare towns
Plainfield vs West Haven vs Windham vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | West Haven | Windham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
55,351Highest |
23,961 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and West Haven 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% |
30.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and West Haven 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 20% below CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| West Haven and Sterling 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 |
$1,442±$43Highest 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | West Haven High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
15.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.