Compare towns
Sterling vs Canton vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Sterling | Canton | Brooklyn | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
10,144 |
8,517 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% CT: 42.5% |
57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$117,991±$20kHighest 23% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Canton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Canton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Canton School District | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.