Compare towns

Guilford vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Madison

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Guilford has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).

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.

MeasureGuilfordKillinglyPlainfieldMadison
People
Population
22,108Highest
17,867
15,141Lowest
17,616
Median age
51.1±1.9
24% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
51.9±1.9Highest
26% above CT
Madison and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±2.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
18.1%±2.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Guilford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.6%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
25.2%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
Guilford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.6%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
72.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
Madison and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$137,816±$11k
44% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
$167,442±$16kHighest
75% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$515,800±$40k
41% above CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
$583,900±$30kHighest
59% above CT
Madison and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,717±$128
15% above CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$2,025±$741Highest
36% above CT
Madison and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,744
32% above CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
$8,843Highest
33% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±9Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44%±12.3
CT: 52.6%
Guilford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
3.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
90.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
7 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the CT average
28 min
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
30 minHighest
12% above CT
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
30.2%±5.3Highest
CT: 16%
Madison and Guilford 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 #15 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #7 of 149 in CT
School district Guilford School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District Madison School District
High school in town Guilford High School Killingly High School Plainfield High School Daniel Hand High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Highest
11.1
10.3
9.8Lowest
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.