Compare towns
Berlin vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Marlborough has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Berlin | Killingly | Putnam | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
17,867 |
7,120 |
41,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$91,968±$9k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$513,100±$28k 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,871±$123 32% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,747 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | — | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.