Compare towns
Killingly vs Sterling vs Franklin vs Plainville
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Franklin | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,629 |
2,004Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Franklin 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%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Sterling 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% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Franklin 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 |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
— | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,126±$147Highest 24% below CT |
| Plainville and Killingly 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 |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 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 |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Franklin School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.