Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainfield vs Sterling vs Willington
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 oldest population (median age 39.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
15,141 |
3,629Lowest |
5,575 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Willington 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% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
33.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
| Sterling 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 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$305,800±$48kHighest 17% below CT |
| Willington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
— | $1,357±$116Highest 9% below CT |
| 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 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,419Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64%Lowest 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 |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Willington 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.