Compare towns
Sterling vs Canton vs Plainfield vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Sterling | Canton | Plainfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
24,748Highest |
15,141 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
| Canton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Canton 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 27% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #81 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Plainfield School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.