Compare towns
Sterling vs Thomaston 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 most people working from home (11.6%).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Thomaston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
7,492 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
41.5±7.7Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Thomaston 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% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Thomaston 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 |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Thomaston 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±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Sterling and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Thomaston 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 |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Thomaston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | 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 |
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.