Compare towns
Sterling vs Webster vs Plainfield vs Franklin
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 people working from home (11.6%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Webster | Plainfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,748Highest |
15,141 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.3±4.3Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Franklin 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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 27% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Franklin 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. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Webster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Webster | Plainfield School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.