Compare towns
Ashford vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Ashford | Killingly | Plainfield | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
10,284 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Ashford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3 |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.