Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ashby vs Killingly vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Ashby | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
3,211Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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 | $76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #200 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.



