Compare towns
Killingly vs Smithfield vs Johnston 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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (14%).
Johnston has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.
| Measure | Killingly | Smithfield | Johnston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
22,233 |
29,835Highest |
17,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Johnston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Johnston 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Johnston 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Plainville 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% 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%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | Johnston | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School | Johnston Senior High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.