Compare towns
Killingly vs Ledyard vs Shelton 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 renters (28.4% rent).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
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 | Ledyard | Shelton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
15,433 |
41,889Highest |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton 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% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Shelton 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 12% below CT |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Shelton and Ledyard 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 |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Shelton and Ledyard 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 |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ledyard and Shelton 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Shelton 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ledyard School District | Shelton School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ledyard High School | Shelton High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.5 |
14.3Highest |
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.



