Compare towns

Sterling vs Coventry vs Killingly vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Coventry has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureSterlingCoventryKillinglyPlainfield
People
Population
3,629Lowest
35,907Highest
17,867
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
44±1.1Highest
13% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
$102,946±$8kHighest
28% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
Coventry and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
$356,200±$11kHighest
7% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,206±$155Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Coventry and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$5,099Highest
63% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Coventry and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sterling and Coventry 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 #119 of 149 in CT #24 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Sterling School District Coventry Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town Coventry High School Killingly High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
11.1
10.3Lowest
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.