Compare towns
Killingly vs Prospect vs Norwalk 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).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Prospect | Norwalk | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
9,458Lowest |
92,187Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Prospect 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% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect 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% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk 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 12% below CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Prospect and Norwalk 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 |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Norwalk and Prospect 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 |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Prospect 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 16 | Norwalk School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Brien McMahon High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.