Compare towns

Killingly vs Groton vs Sturbridge 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).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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.

MeasureKillinglyGrotonSturbridgePlainville
People
Population
17,867Highest
11,390
9,960Lowest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.4±2.7
6% above U.S.
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Plainville 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%
28.3%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Groton and Sturbridge 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%
17.3%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainville and Sturbridge 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%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville and Groton 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.
$192,958±$27kHighest
139% above U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$743,400±$46kHighest
123% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,458±$335Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Groton and Sturbridge 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
43.8%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Groton and Killingly 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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Groton and Sturbridge 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 #39 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Groton-Dunstable Sturbridge · Tantasqua Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Groton Dunstable Regional Tantasqua Regional Sr High Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
13.7Highest
7.7Lowest
11.4
On TownTapestry
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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.