Compare towns

Killingly vs Plainfield vs Bernardston

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 highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 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.

MeasureKillinglyPlainfieldBernardston
People
Population
17,867Highest
15,141
2,164Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
49±3.2Highest
26% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Plainfield 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%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bernardston 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%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%
3.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$81,940±$10k
about the U.S. average
Killingly and Bernardston 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.
$332,000±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,283±$553Highest
9% below U.S.
Bernardston and Plainfield 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.
$4,516Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Killingly and Bernardston 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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bernardston 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 #131 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District Pioneer Valley
High school in town Killingly High School Plainfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.3Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.