Compare towns
Killingly vs Ashburnham vs Union 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
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Ashburnham | Union | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
6,415 |
944Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Union and Plainville 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Plainville 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Union 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 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 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashburnham-Westminster | Union School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.