Compare towns

Douglas vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Plainfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.

MeasureDouglasKillinglyLancasterPlainfield
People
Population
9,207
17,867Highest
8,606Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Douglas and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Douglas and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Lancaster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Lancaster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Douglas 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 #177 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Douglas Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Plainfield School District
High school in town Douglas High School Killingly High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
11.1Highest
—
10.3
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.