Compare towns

Killingly vs Wakefield vs Stoneham 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).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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.

MeasureKillinglyWakefieldStonehamPlainville
People
Population
17,867
27,793Highest
23,355
17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
42.2±2.2
8% 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%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham 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%
19%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham and Plainville 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%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville 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.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$113,964±$10k
41% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Wakefield and Stoneham 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.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% above U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Stoneham and Wakefield 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.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$6,523
109% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wakefield and Killingly 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #179 of 282 in MA #117 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield Stoneham Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Stoneham High Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
10.7Lowest
10.7Lowest
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.