Compare towns
Plainfield vs Dudley vs Sterling vs Killingly
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).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Dudley | Sterling | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
11,929 |
3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.2±2.4Highest 3% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Dudley 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Dudley 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% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Dudley 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. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Plainfield 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. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dudley 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | 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.