Compare towns

Killingly vs Salem vs Woonsocket vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

MeasureKillinglySalemWoonsocketPlainfield
People
Population
17,867
4,282Lowest
43,521Highest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
40.9±5.4Highest
5% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Salem 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
4% above U.S.
$123,245±$8kHighest
53% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$403,600±$33kHighest
21% above U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,440±$150Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,668Highest
114% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
32.1%±26Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
19% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Salem 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 #11 of 149 in CT #37 of 38 in RI #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Salem School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Woonsocket High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
—
15.2Highest
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.