Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windsor vs Colebrook vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Windsor has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Windsor | Colebrook | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
29,468Highest |
1,494Lowest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Windsor 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% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Colebrook and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
— |
| Windsor and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Colebrook School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Windsor High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
10.2Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.