Compare towns

Plainfield vs Woonsocket vs Sterling vs Killingly

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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldWoonsocketSterlingKillingly
People
Population
15,141
43,521Highest
3,629Lowest
17,867
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
39.5±3Highest
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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
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%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±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±$8k
5% below U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% 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±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$311,000±$15kHighest
7% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Killingly 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.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
—
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
Plainfield and Woonsocket 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.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$4,551Highest
46% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Killingly 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
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 #37 of 38 in RI #119 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Sterling School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Plainfield High School Woonsocket High School None in town Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
15.2Highest
—
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.