Compare towns
Durham vs Killingly vs Marlborough vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Durham | Killingly | Marlborough | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
17,867Highest |
6,130Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$142,105±$35k 48% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,333±$438Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Marlborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,397 11% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.7% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #52 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Marlborough School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 10.3 |
| 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.