Compare towns
Killingly vs Ayer vs Preston 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
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
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 | Killingly | Ayer | Preston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,645 |
4,821Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Preston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Preston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Preston School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.5Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.