Compare towns
Killingly vs Middletown vs Orange vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Middletown | Orange | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
47,958Highest |
14,315Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Middletown 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #38 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 · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Middletown High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.8Highest |
— | 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.