Compare towns

Killingly vs Thompson vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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.

MeasureKillinglyThompsonWorcesterPlainfield
People
Population
17,867
9,337Lowest
207,055Highest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+14.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±0.8
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Worcester 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%
13.3%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
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%
35.2%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%
14.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% 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.
$374,400±$7kHighest
13% above U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,487±$38Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,733Highest
52% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Worcester and Thompson 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%
19.6%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%
42.8%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.
1951Lowest
29 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.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±1
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Worcester 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 #266 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 Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School South High Community Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
7.9Lowest
14.6Highest
10.3
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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.