Compare towns
Sterling vs Plainfield vs Killingly
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 expensive homes ($499k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 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 | $129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wachusett | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.