Compare towns
Killingly vs Sterling vs Winchester 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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Winchester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
10,284 |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 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±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 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 |
— | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
| Plainfield and Winchester 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 |
$4,780Highest 28% below 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% |
48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #97 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 | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
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.