Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainfield vs Ayer vs Pomfret
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Plainfield | Ayer | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
15,141 |
8,645 |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Ayer 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Ayer 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Pomfret 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.



