Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainfield vs Preston vs Wauregan
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 people working from home (11.1%).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% 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.
| Measure | Killingly | Plainfield | Preston | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
15,141 |
4,821 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +27.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Preston 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan 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 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Preston 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 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,254±$476 16% below CT |
| Preston and Wauregan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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 CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Preston School District | — |
| 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 | 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.