Compare towns

Killingly vs Smithfield vs Orange 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

Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureKillinglySmithfieldOrangePlainfield
People
Population
17,867
22,233Highest
14,315Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
45.6±2.4Highest
17% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Orange and Smithfield 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%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Orange 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
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%
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
$142,325±$10kHighest
76% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$446,400±$12k
34% above U.S.
$491,500±$17kHighest
48% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,172±$161Highest
54% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$8,988Highest
188% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±12.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orange and Smithfield 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 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 minLowest
7% below U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Orange and Smithfield 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 #38 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Smithfield Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School Smithfield High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.8Highest
—
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.