Compare towns
Killingly vs Thomaston vs Willimantic vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
7,492Lowest |
18,096Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,126±$147Highest 24% below CT |
| Plainville and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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 | — | #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 |
CT 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.