Compare towns
Preston vs Sterling vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Preston | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,821 |
3,629Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Preston and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 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+ | 23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Preston and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Preston School District | 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 |
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.