Compare towns
Killingly vs Columbia vs Sutton 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).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Columbia | Sutton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
5,300Lowest |
9,452 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.3±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Sutton 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia 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% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Columbia 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. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.



