Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainfield vs Shelton vs Suffield
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).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Shelton | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
15,141Lowest |
41,889Highest |
15,702 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton 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% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Shelton 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 |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Shelton 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±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Shelton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton and Suffield 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% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Shelton 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 | #71 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Shelton School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Shelton High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.