Compare towns
Plainville vs Killingly vs Canterbury vs East Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (14.7%).
East Haven has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Plainville | Killingly | Canterbury | East Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
17,867 |
5,124Lowest |
27,806Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
45.7±2.5 11% above CT |
| Canterbury and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.8%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.5%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
$94,628±$9k about the CT average |
| Canterbury and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
$294,200±$12k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,528±$132Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
$5,122Highest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Haven and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
74.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT | #127 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Canterbury School District | East Haven School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Killingly High School | None in town | East Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.