Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Chester vs Putnam
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).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Killingly | Chester | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867Highest |
3,825Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$8k 20% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Chester 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±$16k 26% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chester School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.1Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.