Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Whitman 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 homeowners (81.1%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Whitman | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,295 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
40.4±1.8Highest 4% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Whitman 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Whitman 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 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. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Whitman 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. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% 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%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest 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. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #191 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Whitman-Hanson | 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.