Compare towns
Chaplin vs Columbia vs Killingly vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Chaplin | Columbia | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
5,300 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Columbia and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Columbia and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 32% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 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 | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Chaplin 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.