Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainville vs Shirley vs Upton
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Shirley | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
17,551 |
6,976Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Shirley 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. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Shirley 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Plainville 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. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Shirley 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— | 11.2 |
| 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.