Compare towns

Killingly vs Lawrence vs Plainfield vs Thompson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureKillinglyLawrencePlainfieldThompson
People
Population
17,867
88,736Highest
15,141
9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+16.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
32.6±0.9Lowest
16% below U.S.
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
26.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
10.5%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Killingly 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.
$60,433±$3kLowest
25% below U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
Thompson 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.
$415,200±$23kHighest
25% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,662±$50Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,422Lowest
10% above U.S.
$4,209Highest
35% above U.S.
$3,822
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Lawrence and Thompson 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%
17.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
28.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1950Lowest
30 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson 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 #278 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Lawrence Plainfield School District Thompson School District
High school in town Killingly High School Lawrence High School Plainfield High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
13.6Highest
10.3
7.9Lowest
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.