Compare towns
Killingly vs Sterling vs Canton 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 renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
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 | Sterling | Canton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
10,144 |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Canton 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Canton 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton 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% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$117,991±$20kHighest 23% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Canton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Canton 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 |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton 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 CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Canton School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Canton High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.