Compare towns
Sterling vs Prospect vs Plainfield vs Franklin
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%).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Prospect | Plainfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
9,458 |
15,141Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Prospect and Franklin 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% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Franklin 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 |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Prospect and Franklin 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 |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Prospect and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Prospect 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.