Compare towns
Sterling vs Mendon 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
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
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 | Mendon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
6,325 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Mendon 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% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon 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 27% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.