Compare towns

Foster vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Webster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 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.

MeasureFosterKillinglyPutnamWebster
People
Population
4,523Lowest
17,867Highest
9,292
17,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3Highest
21% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
39.9±2.9
about the U.S. average
Foster and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,646±$18kHighest
41% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$72,895±$6k
10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,300±$30kHighest
28% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$361,500±$12k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,509±$556Highest
7% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
Foster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,135Highest
129% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$3,999
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Foster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Foster and Killingly 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 #22 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #271 of 282 in MA
School district Foster Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District Webster
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Putnam High School Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
9.5Lowest
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.