Compare towns

Killingly vs Plainville vs Stoneham vs Wakefield

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).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).

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.

MeasureKillinglyPlainvilleStonehamWakefield
People
Population
17,867
17,551Lowest
23,355
27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
Plainville and Wakefield 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%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham and Wakefield 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%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham 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%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%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%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
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±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
$113,964±$10k
41% above U.S.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
Wakefield and Stoneham 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.
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
Stoneham and Wakefield 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.
$6,523
109% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% 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%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wakefield and Killingly 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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT #117 of 282 in MA #179 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Stoneham —
High school in town Killingly High School Plainville High School Stoneham High —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.4Highest
10.7Lowest
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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.