Compare towns
Berlin vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Bolton
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
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 | Plainfield | Killingly | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Killingly 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±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 | $121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Berlin 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.