Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Killingly vs Putnam vs New Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
New Milford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Bridgewater | Killingly | Putnam | New Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
17,867 |
9,292 |
28,334Highest |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
42.1±1.9 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Milford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$106,411±$8k 11% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$391,500±$10k 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,609±$152Highest 8% above CT |
| New Milford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869Highest 3% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,150 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±13.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Milford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
7.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
80.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #110 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | New Milford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | New Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
9.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.