Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Danielson 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 highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Danielson has the most renters (47% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Danielson | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,209 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1Lowest 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%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
15% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Plainfield 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 |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Sterling and Killingly 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±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,235±$194Highest 17% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Danielson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,009 40% below CT |
$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% |
44.7%±17.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Danielson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 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.