Compare towns
Hopedale vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopedale has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Hopedale | Killingly | Putnam | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,360Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±8.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopedale and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopedale and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopedale and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,909±$18k 34% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$44k 28% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$233Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Hopedale and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.3%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #125 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.