Compare towns

Douglas vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.

MeasureDouglasKillinglyLancasterPutnam
People
Population
9,207
17,867Highest
8,606Lowest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
Douglas and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Douglas and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Lancaster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Lancaster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Douglas 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 #177 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Douglas Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Putnam School District
High school in town Douglas High School Killingly High School None in town Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
11.1Highest
—
9.5
On TownTapestry
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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.