Compare towns

Killingly vs Sterling vs Plainfield

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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
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.

MeasureKillinglySterlingPlainfield
People
Population
17,867Highest
8,183Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
51.5±1.8Highest
32% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sterling 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
4% above U.S.
$129,063±$27kHighest
60% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$498,800±$48kHighest
50% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,699±$161Highest
20% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,757Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±23.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sterling 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%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #135 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Wachusett Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School 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

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.