Compare towns
Willimantic vs Sterling vs Plainfield vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Willimantic | Sterling | Plainfield | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,096Highest |
3,629Lowest |
15,141 |
9,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
| Sterling and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
| Groton and Sterling 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±$70 19% below CT |
$1,250±$98Highest 16% below CT |
| Groton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,411 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
18.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
45.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest 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 | 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.