Compare towns

Crystal Lake 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

Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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.

MeasureCrystal LakeKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
2,024Lowest
17,867Highest
7,120
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
-2.1%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
48.9±7.6Highest
19% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
41.2±5.1
about the CT average
Crystal Lake and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.5%±7.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.3%±5.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$143,882±$29kHighest
50% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,800±$35kHighest
about the CT average
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,147±$43Highest
23% below CT
Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,146Highest
8% above CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±93.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
47% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
25 minLowest
5% below CT
Work from home
17.5%±10Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
Crystal Lake 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 — #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS —
High school in town — Killingly High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.