Compare towns
Barre vs Hardwick vs Killingly vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Barre | Hardwick | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
2,684Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Barre and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Killingly 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Quabbin | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.