Compare towns
Acton vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Winchester
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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Putnam | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
17,867 |
9,292Lowest |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Acton 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Acton 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. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester and Acton 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.1 |
9.5Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.