Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Exeter vs Plainville
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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Exeter | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
7,195 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Preston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Exeter 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainville 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. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Preston and Exeter 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. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Preston and Exeter 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. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #14 of 38 in RI | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.