Compare towns
Sterling vs Danielson vs Plainville
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 highest household income ($103k).
Danielson has the most renters (47% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Danielson | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
4,209 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Danielson 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% |
13.6%±4.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Danielson 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% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,235±$194Highest 17% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Danielson and Plainville 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 |
$4,009Lowest 40% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Danielson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Plainville 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.