Compare towns
Canterbury vs Killingly vs Needham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Killingly | Needham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
17,867 |
32,459Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Canterbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 | $103,198±$6k 28% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #125 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Needham | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Needham High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
11.9Highest |
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.