Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Beacon Falls vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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.
| Measure | Sterling | Killingly | Beacon Falls | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
6,147 |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Sterling and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Sterling 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 16 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Woodland Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
11.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.