Compare towns
Canton vs Columbia 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
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Canton | Columbia | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
5,300Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Columbia and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Columbia and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Canton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Canton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Columbia 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 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.