Compare towns
Cheshire vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cheshire has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
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 | Cheshire | Killingly | Plainfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
| Killingly and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,200±$48kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Killingly 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 | #274 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Hoosac Valley High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
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.