Compare towns
Sterling vs Stoneham 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
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
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 | Stoneham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
23,355Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Stoneham 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. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoneham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #117 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Stoneham | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stoneham High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.