Compare towns

Killingly vs Needham vs Chilmark 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
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.

MeasureKillinglyNeedhamChilmarkPlainville
People
Population
17,867
32,459Highest
1,578Lowest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+40%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
53.6±8.1Highest
38% above U.S.
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
Chilmark 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
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
36.2%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±2.6Lowest
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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$168,750±$28k
109% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43k
257% above U.S.
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
470% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183
70% above U.S.
$2,750±$2kHighest
95% above U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Chilmark and Needham 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,485
44% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±59.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Killingly 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
19% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±11
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Needham and Chilmark 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 #19 of 282 in MA — #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Up-Island Regional Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School — None in town Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
— —
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

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.