Compare towns
Killingly vs Meriden vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield
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 expensive homes ($289k median).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
60,545Highest |
12,579Lowest |
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 |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Killingly and Windsor Locks 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±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% 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±$72 13% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Meriden 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%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 |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT | #109 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 | Windsor Locks School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Windsor Locks High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
16.2Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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.