Compare towns
Dover vs Killingly vs Needham 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
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Dover | Killingly | Needham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
17,867 |
32,459Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Needham 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Killingly High School | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
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.