Compare towns
Plainfield vs Willimantic vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
18,096Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% 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% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and Sterling 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% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.