Compare towns
Killingly vs Spencer vs Colebrook 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).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Spencer | Colebrook | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
12,008 |
1,494Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Spencer 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Colebrook 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Colebrook 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. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Colebrook 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. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Spencer-E Brookfield | Colebrook School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | David Prouty High | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.9Lowest |
— | 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.