Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainfield vs Salem vs Sterling
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 renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Salem has the most people working from home (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 | Salem | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
15,141 |
4,282 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4Highest about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Salem 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%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem 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 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 19% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Salem and Sterling 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Salem School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | 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.