Compare towns
Amesbury vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs West Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).
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 | Amesbury | Killingly | Plainfield | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
4,591Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.5±3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Newbury and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$179,500±$27kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$808,200±$47kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,675±$674 19% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$9,240Highest 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Newbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Newbury and Amesbury 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.