Compare towns

Killingly vs Woonsocket vs Sterling 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 oldest population (median age 39.5).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 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.

MeasureKillinglyWoonsocketSterlingPlainfield
People
Population
17,867
43,521Highest
3,629Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3Highest
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
Sterling 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.
$311,000±$15kHighest
7% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Woonsocket 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
26% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
—
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
Plainfield and Woonsocket 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.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$4,551Highest
46% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Killingly 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #37 of 38 in RI #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 RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Sterling School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School Woonsocket High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
15.2Highest
—
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.