Compare towns
Killingly vs Ware vs Ashburnham 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 renters (28.4% rent).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Ware | Ashburnham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
10,048 |
6,415Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Ware and Ashburnham 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Killingly 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Plainfield 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ware | Ashburnham-Westminster | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.



