Compare towns
Charlestown vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Carolina
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlestown has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Carolina has the most kids (32.3% under 18).
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 | Charlestown | Killingly | Plainfield | Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,051 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
1,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.9±11.5 8% above U.S. |
| Charlestown and Carolina are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
32.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,404±$10k 36% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$140,196±$25kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Carolina and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$396,400±$71k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$134Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Charlestown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,375Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±84.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carolina and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
55 minHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chariho | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.