Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Ashford vs Plainfield
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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Preston | Ashford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821 |
4,226Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Preston and Killingly 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% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Preston and Ashford 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 |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Preston and Ashford 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Ashford 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Ashford School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| 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.