Compare towns

Killingly vs Plainfield vs Preston vs Webster

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 most people working from home (11.1%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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.

MeasureKillinglyPlainfieldPrestonWebster
People
Population
17,867Highest
15,141
4,821Lowest
17,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
46.2±7Highest
19% above U.S.
39.9±2.9
about the U.S. average
Preston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Webster 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%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster and Plainfield 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.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$116,648±$27kHighest
44% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
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
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$361,900±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
$361,500±$12k
9% above U.S.
Preston and Webster 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.
$1,433±$1kHighest
about the U.S. average
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
Preston and Webster 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.
$4,749Highest
52% above U.S.
$3,999
28% 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%
52.6%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Preston and Webster 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%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #271 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District Preston School District Webster
High school in town Killingly High School Plainfield High School None in town Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
10.3Lowest
—
11.6Highest
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.