Compare towns

Beacon Falls vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Sturbridge

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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

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.

MeasureBeacon FallsKillinglyPlainfieldSturbridge
People
Population
6,147Lowest
17,867Highest
15,141
9,960
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±3.8Highest
24% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
Beacon Falls and Sturbridge 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%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Beacon Falls and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Lowest
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±$42k
26% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,300±$34k
5% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,921±$286Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,534Highest
109% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±30.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Beacon Falls and Killingly 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
24% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
20.3%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Beacon Falls and Sturbridge 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 #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #89 of 282 in MA
School district Regional School District 16 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Woodland Regional High School Killingly High School Plainfield High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
11.1
10.3
7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.