Compare towns
Plainfield vs Springfield vs Killingly vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% 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 | Springfield | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
154,749Highest |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39.5±3Highest about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield 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±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 18% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| 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±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Springfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Springfield Central High | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.