Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Southbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Bridgewater | Killingly | Plainville | Southbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
17,867 |
17,551 |
20,071Highest |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
54.2±2.4 32% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
33%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Southbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
51.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$112,887±$8k 18% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$411,600±$18k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,935±$277Highest 30% above CT |
| Southbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869Highest 3% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$6,240 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.2%±4.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Southbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±3.9 CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Southbury 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #36 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Pomperaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.