Compare towns
Willington vs Plainfield vs Killingly vs Crystal Lake
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Willington | Plainfield | Killingly | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575 |
15,141 |
17,867Highest |
2,024Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
| Crystal Lake and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,357±$116Highest 9% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Willington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419 18% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
17.5%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Crystal Lake 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Willington School District | 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 | 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.