Compare towns
Spencer vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | Spencer | Plainfield | Killingly | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
48.5±3.4 25% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1Lowest 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 | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79 21% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairhaven and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.3 |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.