Compare towns
Killingly vs Northbridge vs Wakefield vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Wakefield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
16,458 |
27,793Highest |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest 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% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Wakefield 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±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% 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% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Wakefield 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northbridge | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Northbridge High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.8 |
10.7 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.