Compare towns

Canterbury vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Suffield

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).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).

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.

MeasureCanterburyKillinglyPlainvilleSuffield
People
Population
5,124Lowest
17,867Highest
17,551
15,702
Median age
48.4±4.5Highest
18% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
44.3±1.5
8% above CT
44.5±1.7
8% above CT
Canterbury and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15%±3.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Suffield 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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Canterbury and Plainville 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%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30%
CT: 42.5%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Plainville 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
8% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$84,343±$7kLowest
12% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
Suffield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$334,200±$12k
9% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$924±$367Lowest
38% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
$1,424±$141Highest
4% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,140
38% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,798
28% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±13Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
Suffield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
6.5%
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%
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
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
26 min
3% below CT
Work from home
14.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10.7%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT
School district Canterbury School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Suffield School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Plainville High School Suffield 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.