Compare towns
Harvard vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Lancaster
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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Killingly | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Killingly 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.