Compare towns

Plainfield vs Killingly vs Chicopee 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 expensive homes ($289k median).
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldKillinglyChicopeeSterling
People
Population
15,141
17,867
55,295Highest
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
41.9±1.4Highest
8% above U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
Chicopee and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Chicopee 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%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%
3.7%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
5% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$62,615±$6kLowest
22% below U.S.
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
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
18% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kHighest
13% below U.S.
$274,500±$8k
17% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
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
15% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,157±$50
18% below U.S.
—
Plainfield and Chicopee 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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,847Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,551Highest
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%
52%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Chicopee 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #136 of 149 in CT #247 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 Chicopee Sterling School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Killingly High School Chicopee Comprehensive High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
11.1
11.2Highest
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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.