Compare towns
Plainfield vs Putnam vs Killingly vs Canterbury
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).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Putnam | Killingly | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
7,120 |
17,867Highest |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
| Canterbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Killingly 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% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 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±$8k 20% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Highest 37% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.