Compare towns
Killingly vs Needham vs Plainfield vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Needham | Plainfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
32,459Highest |
15,141Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Needham and Wakefield 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Wakefield 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% 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% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% 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% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Wakefield 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Needham | Plainfield School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Needham High | Plainfield High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.9Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.