Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Gardner 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
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Beacon Falls | Gardner | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
21,148Highest |
17,867 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 | $101,516±$42kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Gardner 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.5Highest |
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.