Compare towns

Plainfield vs Lancaster vs Plainville vs Killingly

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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldLancasterPlainvilleKillingly
People
Population
15,141
8,606Lowest
17,551
17,867Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
Plainville and Lancaster 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%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
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%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainville and Lancaster 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%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville 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
5% below U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster 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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #131 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #89 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Nashoba Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Plainfield High School None in town Plainville High School Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
—
11.4Highest
11.1
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.