Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Ashburnham vs Sterling
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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
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 | Killingly | Ashburnham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867Highest |
6,415 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Ashburnham 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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Ashburnham 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% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Ashburnham 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% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham 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 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
— |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #178 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town | 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 |
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.