Compare towns
Athol vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Athol | Killingly | Plainfield | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,801Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 21% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 40 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.