Compare towns
Killingly vs Norwalk vs Prospect 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Norwalk | Prospect | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
92,187Highest |
9,458Lowest |
17,551 |
| 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 |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Prospect and Plainville 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%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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 CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest 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±$7k 12% above CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Prospect and Norwalk 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 |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Norwalk and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$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% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Prospect 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT | #50 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 | Regional School District 16 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Brien McMahon High School | 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 |
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.