Compare towns

Killingly vs Stoneham vs Needham vs Plainville

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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Stoneham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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.

MeasureKillinglyStonehamNeedhamPlainville
People
Population
17,867
23,355
32,459Highest
17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Plainville and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
4% above U.S.
$113,964±$10k
41% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,035±$142
44% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,523
109% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham 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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #117 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Stoneham — Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Stoneham High — Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
10.7Lowest
—
11.4Highest
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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.