Compare towns
Plainfield vs Shelton vs Killingly vs Wauregan
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Wauregan has the most kids (25.6% 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Shelton | Killingly | Wauregan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
41,889Highest |
17,867 |
1,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +27.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
44.5±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
32±5.9Lowest 22% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
25.6%±9.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Wauregan and Killingly 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% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
10.2%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton 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% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Shelton 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 20% below CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,545±$18k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$262,700±$15kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,254±$476 16% below CT |
| Shelton and Wauregan 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 |
$5,409Highest 19% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,649Lowest 45% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
22.4%±19.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton 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% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
30 min 14% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.8%±7.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Shelton 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 | #71 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Shelton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Shelton High School | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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.