Compare towns
Plympton vs Sterling vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plympton has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Plympton | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,935Lowest |
3,629 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Plympton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plympton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Plympton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $517,800±$52kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plympton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plympton 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 | #110 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plympton | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.