Compare towns
Killingly vs Meriden vs Suffield vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Meriden | Suffield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
60,545Highest |
15,702 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Suffield and Meriden 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 |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Suffield 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%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #131 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 | Suffield School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Suffield High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
16.2Highest |
10.9 |
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.