Compare towns
Sterling vs Madison 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).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Madison | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,616Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest 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% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Madison 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 |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Madison 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% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Madison School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.