Compare towns
Pepperell vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Pepperell | Killingly | Plainfield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.