Compare towns
Killingly vs Lancaster vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Lancaster | Dover | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,606 |
5,930Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Dover 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Killingly 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Lancaster 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainville 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Dover and Lancaster 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest 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 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.