Compare towns
Plainfield vs Brookfield vs Sterling vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% 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 | Brookfield | Sterling | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,706 |
3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 6% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Sterling 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Brookfield School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Brookfield High School | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.