Compare towns

Harvard vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Plainville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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.

MeasureHarvardKillinglyLancasterPlainville
People
Population
6,927Lowest
17,867Highest
8,606
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44.1±4.7
13% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Plainville and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Harvard and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$213,996±$24kHighest
165% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$833,600±$54kHighest
151% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424
7% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Harvard and Lancaster 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 #12 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT
School district Harvard Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town The Bromfield High School Killingly High School None in town Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Lowest
11.1
—
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 12 photos → 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.