Compare towns
Killingly vs Sprague vs Sterling vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Sprague | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
2,962Lowest |
3,629 |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Sprague 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 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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 CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Sprague and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 12% below CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Sterling and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Sprague and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,668Highest 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sprague School District | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.