Compare towns
Killingly vs Norwich vs Sterling vs Plainfield
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 expensive homes ($289k median).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Norwich | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
39,973Highest |
3,629Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling 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% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Norwich 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% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Norwich 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% |
23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Norwich and Plainfield 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 |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
14.8Highest |
— | 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.