Compare towns
Chaplin vs Crystal Lake 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
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Chaplin | Crystal Lake | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
2,024Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Crystal Lake and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly 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% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake 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% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Crystal Lake 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 |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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 |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Crystal Lake 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 | — | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | — | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 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.