Compare towns

Killingly vs Milford vs Lancaster vs Plainville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Milford has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureKillinglyMilfordLancasterPlainville
People
Population
17,867
30,431Highest
8,606Lowest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
38.9±1.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Plainville and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Milford 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainville and Lancaster 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
U.S.: 35.7%
35.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$96,365±$4k
19% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$476,700±$12k
43% above U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Lancaster and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,909±$137
35% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Lancaster and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,869
88% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14.5%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #213 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Milford Nashoba Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Milford High None in town Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
11.9Highest
—
11.4
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U.S. 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.