Compare towns
Killingly vs Thomaston vs Wakefield 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).
Thomaston has the most homeowners (77.7%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Thomaston | Wakefield | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
7,492Lowest |
27,793Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Thomaston 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Wakefield 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thomaston School District | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Thomaston High School | — | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.