Compare towns
Killingly vs Norwalk vs Plainfield vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Norwalk | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
92,187Highest |
15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
40.6±1Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Norwalk 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield 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 12% below CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Norwalk and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk 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 CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Norwalk and Sterling 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #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 | Norwalk School District | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Brien McMahon High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
14.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.