Compare towns
Dudley vs Killingly vs Preston 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
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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.
| Measure | Dudley | Killingly | Preston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Preston and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Preston and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,749Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.1 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.