Compare towns

Durham vs Guilford 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

Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Guilford has the most expensive homes ($516k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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.

MeasureDurhamGuilfordKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
7,208Lowest
22,108Highest
17,867
9,292
Median age
45.5±2.8
11% above CT
51.1±1.9Highest
24% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.8%±2.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Guilford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
26.6%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.9%
CT: 42.5%
60.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$137,816±$11k
44% above CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$424,800±$23k
16% above CT
$515,800±$40kHighest
41% above CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,154±$448
22% below CT
$1,717±$128Highest
15% above CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Guilford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,998
20% above CT
$8,744Highest
32% above CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±28.4
CT: 52.6%
47.4%±9Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Guilford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
CT: 10%
2.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
83.7%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1974
7 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below CT
26 min
about the CT average
28 minHighest
5% above CT
25 min
6% below CT
Work from home
20.5%±6.4
CT: 16%
21.7%±3.3Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Guilford and Durham 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 #88 of 149 in CT #15 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 13 Guilford School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District
High school in town Coginchaug Regional High School Guilford High School Killingly High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
11.8Highest
11.1
9.5
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.