Compare towns
Killingly vs Washington vs Salem 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Washington | Salem | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,676Lowest |
4,282 |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Washington and Plainville 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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 CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainville 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 12% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Salem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Salem and Washington 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Salem 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 12 | Salem School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.1Lowest |
— | 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.