Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($132k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Sturbridge | Plainfield | Killingly | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,443Lowest |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8 23% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,568±$34kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225 42% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410 106% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.