Compare towns
Killingly vs Hamden vs Beacon Falls vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Hamden | Beacon Falls | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
61,045Highest |
6,147Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Hamden High School | Woodland Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
11.2 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.