Compare towns
Sterling vs Colebrook 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).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Sterling | Colebrook | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
1,494Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Colebrook 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 |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Colebrook and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Colebrook 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.