Compare towns
Killingly vs Thompson vs Gardner 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Thompson | Gardner | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
9,337Lowest |
21,148Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Thompson 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±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Gardner and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Gardner 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 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. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District | Gardner | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Gardner High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.