Compare towns
Killingly vs Meriden vs Plainfield vs Torrington
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 people working from home (11.1%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Meriden | Plainfield | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
60,545Highest |
15,141Lowest |
35,547 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
| Torrington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Torrington 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% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,169±$43 21% below CT |
| Meriden and Plainfield 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 |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,042 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Torrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
66.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #132 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Plainfield High School | Torrington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
16.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.