Compare towns

Killingly vs Exeter vs Wilbraham 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

Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

MeasureKillinglyExeterWilbrahamPlainville
People
Population
17,867Highest
7,195Lowest
14,572
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
44.3±2.7Highest
14% above U.S.
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%
23.2%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Wilbraham 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%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilbraham 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%
46.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
51.9%Highest
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%
5.2%±1.8Lowest
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±$30k
38% above U.S.
$122,051±$14kHighest
51% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Wilbraham 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.
$416,000±$25k
25% above 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.
$1,175±$241
17% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Exeter and Wilbraham 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.
$6,658Highest
113% 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%
53.1%±23.8
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
22 min
15% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
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%
12.9%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Wilbraham 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 #88 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Exeter-West Greenwich Hampden-Wilbraham Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Minnechaug Regional High Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
14.2Highest
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.