Compare towns
Canterbury vs Hamden vs Killingly vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Canterbury | Hamden | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,867 |
15,141 |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 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+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Canterbury and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 38% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.