Compare towns
Durham vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Torrington
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 highest household income ($159k).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Plainville | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
17,867 |
17,551 |
35,547Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -2.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
| Durham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
24.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,169±$43Highest 21% below CT |
| Torrington 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 |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$5,042 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Torrington 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% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
66.1%Lowest 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 |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #132 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Torrington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4 |
11.9Highest |
| 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.