Compare towns

Killingly vs Exeter vs Sturbridge 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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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.

MeasureKillinglyExeterSturbridgePlainfield
People
Population
17,867Highest
7,195Lowest
9,960
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37.7±5.9
3% below U.S.
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge 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%
19.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sturbridge 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
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%
4.6%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter 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.
$111,250±$30k
38% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Sturbridge and Exeter 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.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,317±$307Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Exeter and Plainfield 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.
$5,881
89% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
$4,209
35% 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%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 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 minLowest
15% below U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge and Exeter 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 #89 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Exeter-West Greenwich Sturbridge · Tantasqua Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
—
7.7Lowest
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.