Compare towns
Canaan vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
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 | Canaan | Killingly | Plainfield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
4,224 |
| Median age | 54.2±3.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.2±9.9 8% above CT |
| Canaan and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±6.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
28.1%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12%±8.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,632±$25k 6% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$124,256±$26kHighest 30% above CT |
| Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $469,400±$33k 28% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$763,700±$121kHighest 108% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,830±$307 23% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,846±$736Highest 24% above CT |
| Salisbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,331Highest 5% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,125 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canaan and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
68.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 23 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
20 min 25% below CT |
| Work from home | 29.2%±13.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
28%±8 CT: 16% |
| Canaan and Salisbury 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #19 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Salisbury School District |
| High school in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.



