Compare towns
Guilford vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Branford
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 people working from home (21.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Branford 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 | Guilford | Plainfield | Killingly | Branford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,108 |
15,141Lowest |
17,867 |
28,217Highest |
| Median age | 51.1±1.9 24% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
54.2±2.1Highest 32% above CT |
| Branford 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest 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%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
30.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Branford and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
51.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±1.2 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 | $137,816±$11kHighest 44% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$105,225±$7k 10% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$401,200±$21k 9% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,717±$128Highest 15% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,565±$111 5% above CT |
| Guilford and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,744Highest 32% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,575 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Branford and Guilford 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
69.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.8 CT: 16% |
| Guilford and Branford 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #94 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Guilford School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Branford School District |
| High school in town | Guilford High School | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Branford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
11.0 |
| 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.