Compare towns

Franklin vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Sterling

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).

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.

MeasureFranklinPlainfieldKillinglySterling
People
Population
2,004Lowest
15,141
17,867Highest
3,629
Median age
40.3±4.3Highest
about the CT average
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
39.4±5.9
4% below CT
Franklin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.2%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9
CT: 20.2%
Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
18%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
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
$105,000±$10kHighest
10% above CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$102,695±$12k
7% above CT
Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$326,200±$20kHighest
11% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
$1,204±$70Highest
19% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
—
Plainfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,934
41% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,551Highest
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1
CT: 52.6%
Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
6 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
27 minLowest
about the CT average
28 min
5% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
6.8%±2.4Lowest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
Sterling and Killingly 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 — #131 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Franklin School District Plainfield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town None in town Plainfield High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Lowest
11.1Highest
—
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.