Compare towns
Killingly vs Ashby vs Gardner 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
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% 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 | Killingly | Ashby | Gardner | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
3,211Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby 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% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±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 | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ashby 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. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Gardner 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex | Gardner | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Gardner High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 13.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.