Compare towns

Killingly vs Needham vs Milton vs Plainfield

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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Milton has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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.

MeasureKillinglyNeedhamMiltonPlainfield
People
Population
17,867
32,459Highest
28,587
15,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6Highest
11% above U.S.
41.1±1.8
6% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Needham and Milton 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%
25.3%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
71.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$188,529±$15k
134% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Needham and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$933,200±$31k
180% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,474±$281
4% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,677
210% above U.S.
$4,209
35% 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%
45.7%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Milton 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%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.7%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Needham and Milton 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 #55 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Milton Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School — Milton High Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
—
12.4Highest
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.