Compare towns
Plainfield vs Killingly vs Smithfield 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 renters (28.4% rent).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Smithfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
17,867 |
22,233Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
48.4±4.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Smithfield 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% |
16.9%±2.4 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% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canterbury and Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$103,198±$6kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Canterbury and Smithfield 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±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$334,200±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$924±$367Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Killingly 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% 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% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below 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% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Smithfield 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 38 in RI | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.