Compare towns
Sterling vs Suffield vs Plainfield vs Chaplin
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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Suffield | Plainfield | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
15,702Highest |
15,141 |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Suffield and Chaplin 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Suffield 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 23% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Chaplin 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Suffield School District | Plainfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Plainfield High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.3 |
7.5Lowest |
| 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.