Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainfield vs Smithfield vs Willington
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Willington has the most renters (36% 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.
| Measure | Killingly | Plainfield | Smithfield | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
15,141 |
22,233Highest |
5,575Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
37.5±7.2 4% below U.S. |
| Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Willington and Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.6%±6.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Willington 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±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$91,114±$12k 13% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Willington 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$305,800±$48k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,357±$116Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Willington 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,419Highest 74% 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% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Smithfield | Willington School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.