Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Bethlehem vs Canterbury
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).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Bethlehem | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867Highest |
3,423Lowest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Bethlehem 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Canterbury 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Plainfield and Bethlehem 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 14 | Canterbury 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 |
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.