Compare towns

Berlin vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Pownal

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 50.6).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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.

MeasureBerlinKillinglyPlainfieldPownal
People
Population
2,880Lowest
17,867Highest
15,141
3,265
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
49±9.1
26% above U.S.
Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±5.3Lowest
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+
26.8%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pownal and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±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
$86,691±$21kHighest
7% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$64,163±$21kLowest
21% below U.S.
Berlin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kHighest
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$256,600±$32kLowest
23% below U.S.
Killingly and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418Highest
42% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$3,560Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pownal and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pownal 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 #16 of 70 in VT #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #67 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Plainfield High School None in town
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.