Compare towns
Killingly vs Salem vs Chaplin 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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Salem | Chaplin | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,282 |
2,070Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Chaplin 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 7.5Lowest |
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.