Compare towns

Griswold vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Smithfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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.

MeasureGriswoldKillinglyPutnamSmithfield
People
Population
11,530
17,867
9,292Lowest
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,719±$11k
about the U.S. average
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$275,900±$42k
17% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,177±$65Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,628
48% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield 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 #118 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI
School district Griswold School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District Smithfield
High school in town Griswold High School Killingly High School Putnam High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5
11.1
9.5Lowest
11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.