Compare towns
Killingly vs Petersham vs Plainville vs Ware
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Petersham has the most expensive homes ($392k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Petersham | Plainville | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
1,185Lowest |
17,551 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 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. |
$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Petersham 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±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Petersham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Petersham and Ware 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Petersham | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Plainville High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.