Compare towns
Killingly vs Hadley vs Preston 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).
Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Hadley | Preston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
5,306 |
4,821Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Preston and Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Preston 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% |
61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley 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. |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hadley and Preston 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. |
$511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Preston and Hadley 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. |
$5,271Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hadley and Killingly 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hadley | Preston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Hopkins Academy | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
7.3Lowest |
— | 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.