Compare towns
Killingly vs Northbridge vs Plainfield vs Sturbridge
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Northbridge | Plainfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
16,458 |
15,141 |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 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. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Killingly 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northbridge | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Northbridge High | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.8 |
10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.