Compare towns
Ware vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Ware | Killingly | Plainville | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.