Compare towns
Killingly vs Willington vs Sterling vs Plainfield
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 oldest population (median age 39.5).
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Willington | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
5,575 |
3,629Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling 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% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Willington 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% CT: 42.5% |
33.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Sterling and Willington 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 |
$305,800±$48kHighest 17% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Willington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,357±$116Highest 9% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Willington and Plainfield 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 |
$5,419Highest 18% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
13%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 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 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Willington School District | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.