Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Shelton
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 renters (28.4% rent).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
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 | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Lowest |
17,867 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton 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 CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Shelton and Plainfield 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 |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,409Highest 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton 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% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Shelton 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 | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.