Compare towns

Killingly vs Melrose vs Plainfield 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

Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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.

MeasureKillinglyMelrosePlainfieldPlainville
People
Population
17,867
29,650Highest
15,141Lowest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.6±1.1
12% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Plainville and Melrose 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%
20.2%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Melrose 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%
20.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Melrose and Plainville 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%
62%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville 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
4% above U.S.
$133,953±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$822,900±$20kHighest
147% above U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,970±$149Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,578Highest
143% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Melrose 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%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #62 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Melrose Plainfield School District Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Melrose High Plainfield High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
12.8Highest
10.3Lowest
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.