Compare towns
Groton vs Killingly vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,490 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 39±3.7Lowest 5% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Killingly 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Groton 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 |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Groton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98Highest 16% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Groton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411 34% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Groton and Killingly 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | 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.