Compare towns
Killingly vs Beacon Falls vs Gardner 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
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Beacon Falls | Gardner | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
6,147Lowest |
21,148Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls 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% |
44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Beacon Falls 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. |
$101,516±$42kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Killingly 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. |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$6,534Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Gardner 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Gardner 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 16 | Gardner | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Woodland Regional High School | Gardner High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.2 |
13.5Highest |
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.