Compare towns
Killingly vs Meriden vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
60,545Highest |
9,337Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% 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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Thompson 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 21% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% 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 | $3,922 41% below CT |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Meriden 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%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 |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #130 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 | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
16.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.