Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Gardner vs Canterbury
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Canterbury 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Killingly | Gardner | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867 |
21,148Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Gardner 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Highest 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% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$334,200±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,140 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Gardner | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
13.5Highest |
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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.