Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainville vs Preston 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Plainville | Preston | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
17,551 |
4,821Lowest |
15,702 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
| Preston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Preston 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Preston School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.