Compare towns

Killingly vs Northampton vs Plainfield vs Sterling

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).

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.

MeasureKillinglyNorthamptonPlainfieldSterling
People
Population
17,867
30,962Highest
15,141
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
41.3±2.2Highest
6% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
Northampton and Killingly 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%
16%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Northampton and Killingly 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%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
18%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
14%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$80,288±$6k
about the U.S. average
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
Sterling and Killingly 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.
$429,700±$17kHighest
29% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,439±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,680Highest
82% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northampton and Killingly 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%
13.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.1%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #159 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural Plainfield School District Sterling School District
High school in town Killingly High School Northampton High Plainfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
14.7Highest
10.3Lowest
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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.