Compare towns
Hampton vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Killingly | Plainville | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
3,629 |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 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 | $109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Hampton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
— |
| Hampton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 34% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Sterling 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.