Compare towns

Plainfield vs Exeter 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldExeterKillingly
People
Population
15,141
7,195Lowest
17,867Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
37.7±5.9
3% below U.S.
39.5±3Highest
about the U.S. average
Killingly and Exeter 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%
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Exeter 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%
18.2%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Exeter 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%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Plainfield 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
5% below U.S.
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
Exeter 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.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,317±$307Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
Exeter 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.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter 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 #14 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Exeter-West Greenwich 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

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.