Compare towns

Killingly vs Middletown vs Orange vs Plainville

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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

MeasureKillinglyMiddletownOrangePlainville
People
Population
17,867
47,958Highest
14,315Lowest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.1%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
38.1±1.5Lowest
7% below CT
45.6±2.4Highest
11% above CT
44.3±1.5
8% above CT
Orange and Plainville 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%
14.3%±1.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3
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%
20.1%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
Orange and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.2%
CT: 42.5%
59.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30%
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%
6.2%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$79,438±$6kLowest
17% below CT
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
$84,343±$7k
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$295,300±$11k
20% below CT
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,446±$45
about the CT average
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,412
3% below CT
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$4,798
28% 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%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
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%
6.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
52.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.7%
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 min
12% below CT
28 min
4% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
14.1%±1.8
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±2Lowest
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 #89 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 Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Middletown High School None in town Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
11.8Highest
—
11.4
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.