Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sturbridge vs Killingly vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($132k).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Sturbridge | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
2,443Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Sturbridge 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% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$131,568±$34kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$418,400±$29kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,410Highest 106% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | Killingly High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.