Compare towns
Smithfield vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Lincoln has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Smithfield | Plainfield | Killingly | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,233 |
15,141Lowest |
17,867 |
22,864Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,751 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Lincoln 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.