Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sterling vs Union 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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Sterling | Union | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
3,629 |
944Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% CT: 42.5% |
24%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 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±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
| Sterling and Union 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 |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Plainfield and Killingly 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 |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Union School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School |
| 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.