Compare towns
Plainfield vs Norwich vs Sterling vs Killingly
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).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k 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 | Norwich | Sterling | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
39,973Highest |
3,629Lowest |
17,867 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3Highest 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% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Norwich 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% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Norwich 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% |
23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below 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±$16k 26% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling 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 |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich 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% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Norwich Free Academy | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— | 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.