Compare towns
Salem vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs East Granby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
East Granby has the most kids (27.5% 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.
| Measure | Salem | Killingly | Plainfield | East Granby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
5,238 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
42.4±2.3Highest 3% above CT |
| East Granby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| East Granby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Granby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
52.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$120,938±$24k 26% above CT |
| Salem and East Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$388,000±$29k 6% above CT |
| Salem and East Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,341±$157 10% below CT |
| Salem and East Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$7,063Highest 6% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
54.1%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Granby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
87.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.5%±6.1 CT: 16% |
| Salem and East Granby 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #56 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | East Granby School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | East Granby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.



