Compare towns
Chester vs Kent 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
Chester has the highest household income ($109k).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Chester | Kent | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,825 |
3,056Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 54±3.4 31% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4 CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
55.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$96,064±$16k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Chester and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25k 21% above CT |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Kent and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,520 32% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6 CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Kent and Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #20 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Kent School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.