Compare towns

Killingly vs Needham vs Winchester 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).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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.

MeasureKillinglyNeedhamWinchesterPlainville
People
Population
17,867
32,459Highest
10,284Lowest
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.
49.1±6.2Highest
26% above U.S.
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
Winchester 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%
15.4%±2.9Lowest
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%
27.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Winchester 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%
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%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
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.
$66,519±$12kLowest
18% below U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$249,500±$17kLowest
25% below U.S.
$254,000±$14k
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,174±$116
17% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,780
53% 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%
48.9%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
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%
6.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #97 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 Explorations District · Regional School District 07 Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Needham High Northwestern Regional High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.9Highest
9.7Lowest
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.