Compare towns
Killingly vs Thomaston vs Exeter 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).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Thomaston | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
7,492 |
7,195Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
41.5±7.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Thomaston 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% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Thomaston 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. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,915Highest 90% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #14 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thomaston School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Thomaston High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.7 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.