Compare towns
Killingly vs Lowell vs Sterling 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
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Lowell | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
118,368Highest |
3,629Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Killingly 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Lowell | Sterling School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Lowell High | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.