Compare towns
Plainfield vs Central Falls vs Killingly vs Sterling
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Central Falls | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
22,701Highest |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.5±3Highest about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8 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+ | 15% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above 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 | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Central Falls 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. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Killingly 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #38 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Central Falls Sr High | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.