Compare towns
Killingly vs Sturbridge vs Wilbraham 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).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (14%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Sturbridge | Wilbraham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
2,443Lowest |
14,572 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham 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% |
18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Sturbridge 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. |
$131,568±$34kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$418,400±$29kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,410 106% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Hampden-Wilbraham | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | — | Minnechaug Regional High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.