Compare towns
Acton vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Acton | Killingly | Plainville | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
17,867 |
17,551 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Acton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.