Compare towns
Killingly vs Mendon vs Shirley vs Plainfield
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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Mendon | Shirley | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
6,325Lowest |
6,976 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley 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% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Shirley 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. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Shirley 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. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Shirley 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. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Shirley 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% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.