Compare towns
Dalton vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Lee has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Dalton | Killingly | Plainfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 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 | $79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Killingly and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.