Compare towns
Killingly vs Otis vs Sterling vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Otis | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
1,624Lowest |
3,629 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Otis 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 13% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Otis and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Farmington River Reg | Sterling School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.