Compare towns
Killingly vs Chaplin vs Sterling vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
2,070Lowest |
3,629 |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin 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% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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 12% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Sterling and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Sterling 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.5Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.