Compare towns
Durham vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Thomaston
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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
7,492 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Durham and Thomaston 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Thomaston 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Thomaston 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Plainfield and Durham 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 |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
10.7 |
| 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.