Compare towns

Killingly vs Plainville vs Sterling vs Woonsocket

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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.

MeasureKillinglyPlainvilleSterlingWoonsocket
People
Population
17,867
17,551
3,629Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Sterling 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%
20.1%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainville 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
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%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
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
4% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below 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±$15k
13% below U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
$311,000±$15kHighest
7% below U.S.
Woonsocket 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
26% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
—
$1,161±$48Highest
18% below U.S.
Woonsocket 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.
$4,798Highest
54% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Killingly 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%
6.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
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 #89 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #37 of 38 in RI
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Sterling School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Killingly High School Plainville High School None in town Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
11.4
—
15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.