Compare towns
Sterling vs Cumberland 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
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
Cumberland has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Cumberland | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
36,820Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Sterling 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% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Sterling 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% |
18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cumberland and Plainfield 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% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest 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 | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Cumberland 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 15% below U.S. |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,870Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #18 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Cumberland High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.