Compare towns
Hardwick vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Killingly | Plainville | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Quabbin | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.