Compare towns
Killingly vs Needham vs Thompson 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 expensive homes ($1189k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Needham | Thompson | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
32,459Highest |
9,337Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest 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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Thompson 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% |
5.9% 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% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 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. |
32 minHighest 20% 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% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Needham | Thompson School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Needham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.9Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.