Compare towns
Plainfield vs Griswold 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).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Griswold | Sterling | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
11,530 |
3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Griswold 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% |
19.9% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 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 |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
| 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 26% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Plainfield and Griswold 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 |
$4,628Highest 30% below 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% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 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 |
31 min 17% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Griswold 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 | Griswold High School | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.