Compare towns
Plainfield vs Columbia vs Killingly vs Wauregan
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% 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 | Plainfield | Columbia | Killingly | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
5,300 |
17,867Highest |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +27.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Columbia and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan and Killingly 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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 CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest 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 |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,254±$476Highest 16% below CT |
| Wauregan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5 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% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.