Compare towns
Columbia vs Putnam vs Killingly vs Coventry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Coventry has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Columbia | Putnam | Killingly | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,292 |
17,867Highest |
12,326 |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
45%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,232±$330Highest 17% below CT |
| Coventry and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$5,284Highest 20% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Coventry School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Killingly High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.