Compare towns
Essex vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Deep River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Essex | Killingly | Plainfield | Deep River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,794 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
4,458Lowest |
| Median age | 52.4±3.6Highest 27% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,395±$7kHighest 9% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
| Essex and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,678 15% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,092Highest 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±9.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
| Essex and Deep River 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 | #33 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #70 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Essex School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3 |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.