Compare towns
Harvard vs Killingly vs Northbridge vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (44.8%).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Harvard | Killingly | Northbridge | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
17,867Highest |
16,458 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% 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% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northbridge | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Killingly High School | Northbridge High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.1Highest |
10.8 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.