Compare towns
Killingly vs Northampton vs Sterling 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
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Northampton | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
30,962Highest |
3,629Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Northampton 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%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northampton 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% 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. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% 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% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #159 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Sterling School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Northampton High | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | 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.