Compare towns
Thompson vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
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 | Thompson | Killingly | Plainfield | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
5,124Lowest |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Plainfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,209Highest 37% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Canterbury and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.