Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Thomaston vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Thomaston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
7,492 |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| 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%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Thomaston 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±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Preston and Thomaston 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 |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Preston and Plainville 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 |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Preston 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% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Thomaston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Thomaston High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.