Compare towns
Groton vs Killingly vs Orange vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Groton | Killingly | Orange | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,490 |
17,867Highest |
14,315 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 39±3.7Lowest 5% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Orange and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,600±$26k 16% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98 16% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411 34% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.