Compare towns

Killingly vs Oxford 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

Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($472k 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.

MeasureKillinglyOxfordPlainfieldSterling
People
Population
17,867Highest
12,991
15,141
3,629Lowest
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
45.2±5.7Highest
10% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
39.4±5.9
4% below CT
Oxford 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%
21.3%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Oxford 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%
22.9%±3.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Oxford 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%
CT: 42.5%
46.3%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%
3.6%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield 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
12% below CT
$128,953±$23kHighest
35% above CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
$102,695±$12k
7% above CT
Oxford 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
$472,400±$20kHighest
29% above CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,415±$87Highest
5% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,442Highest
3% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
23.3%±15.8Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1
CT: 52.6%
Killingly and Plainfield 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%
4%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
90.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1986
19 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
30 min
14% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
14.4%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
Oxford 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 #78 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 Oxford School District Plainfield School District Sterling School District
High school in town Killingly High School Oxford High School Plainfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.1Lowest
10.3
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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.