Compare towns
Plainfield vs Harwinton vs Killingly vs Sterling
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).
Harwinton has the highest household income ($130k).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Harwinton | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
5,575 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.1±4.3Highest 12% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Harwinton 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 CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Harwinton 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% |
22.1%±3.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Harwinton 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% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton 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 20% below CT |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Harwinton and Sterling 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 |
$352,100±$16kHighest 4% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,504±$200Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$5,503Highest 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 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% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
93%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Harwinton and Sterling 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 | #34 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 10 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| 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.