Compare towns
Sterling vs Derby vs Plainfield vs Ashford
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).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Derby | Plainfield | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
12,487 |
15,141Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Ashford 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Derby and Ashford 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 |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
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.