Compare towns
Durham vs Killingly vs Orange 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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Orange | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
17,867Highest |
14,315 |
15,141 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Orange and Durham 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest 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% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Durham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% 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% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Orange 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 | #38 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 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | 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.