Compare towns

Townsend vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Ashby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).

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.

MeasureTownsendKillinglyPlainvilleAshby
People
Population
9,100
17,867Highest
17,551
3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+3.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.3
5% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
50.5±3Highest
30% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ashby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
$115,598±$9k
43% above U.S.
Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
$390,500±$30k
17% above U.S.
Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
$1,200±$484
15% below U.S.
Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,031
93% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
$6,034Highest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
36.4%±53.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ashby 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 #136 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT #200 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Judicial Centers · Plainville School District North Middlesex
High school in town North Middlesex Regional Killingly High School Plainville High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
11.1Lowest
11.4
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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.