Compare towns

Plainfield vs Whately 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

Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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.

MeasurePlainfieldWhatelyKillinglySterling
People
Population
15,141
1,499Lowest
17,867Highest
3,629
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
49.3±6.7Highest
27% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Whately 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
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
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
5% below U.S.
$116,563±$15kHighest
44% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Whately and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$431,500±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$977±$125Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
—
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
35% above U.S.
$5,027Highest
61% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
26.7%±29Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1
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%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
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
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Whately and Sterling 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 — #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Whately Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town Plainfield High School None in town 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

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.