Compare towns
Hardwick vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Hardwick | Killingly | Plainville | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.