Compare towns
Ellington vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Colchester has the most homeowners (76.5%).
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 | Ellington | Killingly | Putnam | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455 |
17,867Highest |
9,292Lowest |
15,648 |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
43.5±3.8 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,474±$153 about the CT average |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751Highest about the CT average |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,212 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.