Compare towns

Cumberland vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Thompson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureCumberlandKillinglyPlainfieldThompson
People
Population
36,820Highest
17,867
15,141
9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
— — —
Median age
43.5±1.2
12% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Cumberland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.9%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±0.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,522±$8kHighest
46% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
Cumberland and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,000±$15kHighest
30% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,379±$109Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Cumberland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,870Highest
56% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.9%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
14.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Cumberland and Thompson 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 #18 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT
School district Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District Thompson School District
High school in town Cumberland High School Killingly High School Plainfield High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.6Highest
11.1
10.3
7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.