Compare towns
Durham vs Killingly vs Meriden 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).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Durham | Killingly | Meriden | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
17,867 |
60,545Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.9±1.3Lowest 5% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Durham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Meriden and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Meriden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
16.2Highest |
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.