Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Norwich 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 people working from home (11.1%).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Norwich | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
39,973Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% 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%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Killingly 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% |
16.9%±1.7 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Preston 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 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Preston and Norwich 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 |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 | #133 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 14.8Highest |
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.