Compare towns

Plainfield vs Ledyard vs Killingly vs Sterling

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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldLedyardKillinglySterling
People
Population
15,141
15,433
17,867Highest
3,629Lowest
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
37.1±1.4
10% below CT
39.5±3Highest
4% below CT
39.4±5.9
4% below CT
Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
27.5%±3.7Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9
CT: 20.2%
Ledyard and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Ledyard 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%
40.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
18%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
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±$8kLowest
20% below CT
$107,975±$10kHighest
13% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$102,695±$12k
7% above CT
Ledyard and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
$326,200±$27kHighest
11% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Ledyard and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,629±$247Highest
9% above CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209
37% below CT
$6,371Highest
4% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
54%±27Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Ledyard 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%
5.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
82.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
22 minLowest
17% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
10%±4
CT: 16%
9.2%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
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 #99 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Ledyard School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Ledyard High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
11.5Highest
11.1
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.