Compare towns
Killingly vs Gardner vs Quinebaug 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Quinebaug has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Gardner | Quinebaug | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
21,148Highest |
1,193Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% |
23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$105,181±$36kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Killingly 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. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gardner | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Gardner High | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
— | 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.