Compare towns
Berlin 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
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Berlin | Killingly | Plainfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.8±6.8 23% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9 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+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$131,568±$34kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225 42% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,410 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.