Compare towns
Killingly vs Ashburnham vs Spencer 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
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Spencer has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Killingly | Ashburnham | Spencer | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
6,415Lowest |
12,008 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Spencer 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashburnham-Westminster | Spencer-E Brookfield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | David Prouty High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.