Compare towns
Killingly vs Gardner vs Douglas 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Gardner | Douglas | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
21,148Highest |
9,207Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Douglas 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. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Killingly 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gardner | Douglas | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Gardner High | Douglas High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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.