Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Washington 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%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821 |
3,676Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Washington and Preston 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%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 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%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Preston 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% |
53.7%Highest 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% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainfield 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Preston and Washington 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±$13k about the CT average |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Preston and Washington 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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 CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 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 | Regional School District 12 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.