Compare towns

Killingly vs Norwalk vs Plainville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureKillinglyNorwalkPlainville
People
Population
17,867
92,187Highest
17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.5%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
40.6±1
about the CT average
44.3±1.5Highest
8% above CT
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.8%±1.2
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
17%±1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
Plainville 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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
44.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.7%±0.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Norwalk and Plainville 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
$84,343±$7kLowest
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$558,000±$21kHighest
52% above CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$2,073±$87Highest
39% above CT
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$7,817Highest
18% above CT
$4,798
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
52.1%±5.2Highest
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
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%
6.5%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
55.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
67.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1967Lowest
same as CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
21 minLowest
20% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
15.1%±1.4Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #112 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Norwalk School District Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Brien McMahon High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
14.7Highest
11.4
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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.