Compare towns
Killingly vs Foster vs Smithfield 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).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Foster | Smithfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
4,523Lowest |
22,233Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Foster and Smithfield 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% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Foster and Smithfield 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. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Foster 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. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Smithfield 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Smithfield 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Foster | Smithfield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Smithfield High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.