Compare towns
Sterling vs Willimantic 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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
18,096Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and Sterling 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% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% 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 | — | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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 CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | — | #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.