Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Griswold vs Killingly vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Griswold has the most homeowners (73.3%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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.

MeasureBethlehemGriswoldKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
3,423Lowest
11,530
17,867Highest
9,292
Median age
51.5±8.5Highest
25% above CT
48.1±3.9
17% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Bethlehem and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±3.7
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±5.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Bethlehem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.1
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,929±$16kHighest
14% above CT
$78,719±$11k
18% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$410,900±$36kHighest
12% above CT
$275,900±$42k
25% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,127±$124
24% below CT
$1,177±$65Highest
21% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,932Highest
11% below CT
$4,628
30% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.7%±38.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Bethlehem and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.4%
CT: 10%
7.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.2%
CT: 66.5%
73.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above CT
31 minHighest
17% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
13.9%±5Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Bethlehem 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 #82 of 149 in CT #118 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 14 Griswold School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District
High school in town None in town Griswold High School Killingly High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Highest
11.1
9.5Lowest
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.