Compare towns
Plainfield vs New Haven 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).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Sterling 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 | New Haven | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
134,349Highest |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% 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% |
21.3%±1 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and New Haven 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% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
38.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 |
$287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Killingly and New Haven 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 |
$1,488±$33Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$6,430Highest 3% 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% |
56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven 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% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1968 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 19% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| New Haven and Sterling 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 | #145 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori 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 | Wilbur Cross High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
13.7Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.