Compare towns
Killingly vs Exeter vs Sterling 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Exeter | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
7,195 |
3,629Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 4% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sterling 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. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #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 | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sterling School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.