Compare towns
Killingly vs Shirley vs Southwick vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Southwick has the most homeowners (83.4%).
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 | Shirley | Southwick | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
6,976Lowest |
9,217 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Southwick and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Shirley 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. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27k 19% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$5,331Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Southwick 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #211 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Southwick Regional School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.0Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.