Compare towns
Sterling vs Ledyard 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 people working from home (11.6%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Ledyard | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
15,433Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Sterling and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Sterling 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Ledyard 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Ledyard 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 |
$107,975±$10kHighest 13% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Ledyard 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 |
$326,200±$27kHighest 11% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Ledyard and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Ledyard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Ledyard School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ledyard High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.