Compare towns
Sterling vs Putnam 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 highest household income ($103k).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
7,120 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
41.2±5.1Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
17%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school 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 |
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.