Compare towns
Durham vs Killingly vs Norwalk 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).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Norwalk | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
17,867 |
92,187Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
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%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Norwalk 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% |
17%±1Lowest 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% |
44.8% 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% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk 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 |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$7,817 18% above 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% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk 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% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Norwalk 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #112 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 | Norwalk School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Killingly High School | Brien McMahon High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
14.7Highest |
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.