Compare towns
Essex vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Westbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Essex | Killingly | Putnam | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,794Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
6,856 |
| Median age | 52.4±3.6 27% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Westbrook and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,395±$7kHighest 9% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$91,202±$23k 5% below CT |
| Essex and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$434,300±$42k 18% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,425±$176 4% below CT |
| Essex and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,678 15% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,829Highest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±9.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±17.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Westbrook and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
19%±5 CT: 16% |
| Essex and Westbrook 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 | #33 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Essex School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5 |
6.3Lowest |
| 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.