Compare towns
Killingly vs Prospect vs Sterling 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Prospect has the most expensive homes ($355k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
9,458 |
3,629Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
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%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Prospect 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest 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% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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 |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Prospect and Sterling 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±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
— | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #119 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 | Sterling School District | 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 |
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.