Compare towns
Columbia vs Hampton 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 most expensive homes ($362k median).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Columbia | Hampton | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,647Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Columbia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Hampton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Hampton 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 | Columbia School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
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.