Compare towns

Killingly vs Plainfield vs Springfield vs Sterling

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 expensive homes ($289k median).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).

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.

MeasureKillinglyPlainfieldSpringfieldSterling
People
Population
17,867
15,141
154,749Highest
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Highest
about the U.S. average
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
Springfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%
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%
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield 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.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
Sterling 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±$15kHighest
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
Killingly and Sterling 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±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,144±$55
19% below U.S.
—
Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
$4,551Highest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sterling 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 #276 of 282 in MA #119 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District Springfield Sterling School District
High school in town Killingly High School Plainfield High School Springfield Central High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
10.3Lowest
12.2Highest
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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.