Compare towns
Killingly vs Charlton vs Northbridge 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Charlton | Northbridge | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
13,435Lowest |
16,458 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Charlton 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% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Charlton 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% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Plainfield 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. |
$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Charlton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Charlton 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. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Charlton and Northbridge 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. |
$4,617 48% above U.S. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Killingly 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% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Charlton 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Northbridge | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Northbridge High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.8 |
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.