Compare towns
Killingly vs Gardner vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
21,148Highest |
3,676Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Washington and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$101,549±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Washington 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±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,709Highest 51% above U.S. |
$4,209 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% |
26.1%±24Lowest 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%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. |
1971Highest 9 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 3% below U.S. |
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% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gardner | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Gardner High | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
9.1Lowest |
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.