Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Pelham 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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Pelham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867Highest |
1,335Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
45±8.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Pelham 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pelham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest 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 | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$447,600±$33kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,205±$560Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,472Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Pelham | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | 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 |
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.