Compare towns

Killingly vs Durham vs Hamden vs Plainfield

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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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.

MeasureKillinglyDurhamHamdenPlainfield
People
Population
17,867
7,208Lowest
61,045Highest
15,141
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
45.5±2.8Highest
11% above CT
38.7±0.9
6% below CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
18.1%±1.3
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Hamden 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%
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
47.8%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$98,306±$7k
about the CT average
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$298,200±$9k
19% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,154±$448
22% below CT
$1,746±$50Highest
17% above CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$7,784
17% above CT
$4,209
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Hamden and Durham 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%
3.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
9.3%
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above CT
23 min
13% below CT
22 minLowest
18% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Durham and Hamden 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 #88 of 149 in CT #122 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Regional School District 13 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School Coginchaug Regional High School Hamden High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
8.9Lowest
13.5Highest
10.3
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.