Compare towns

Killingly vs Bolton vs Union vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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.

MeasureKillinglyBoltonUnionPutnam
People
Population
17,867Highest
4,853
944Lowest
9,292
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±3.3
6% above CT
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Union and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Bolton 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
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±3.4
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±2.6Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Union 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%
CT: 42.5%
51.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
7.7%±2.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
5%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Bolton and Killingly 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
12% below CT
$126,364±$19kHighest
32% above CT
$88,958±$14k
7% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$367,600±$17kHighest
about the CT average
$330,400±$26k
10% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Bolton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,127±$55
24% below CT
—
$1,149±$44Highest
23% below CT
Putnam and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$8,091Highest
22% above CT
$4,793
28% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±30.8
CT: 52.6%
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Union and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
CT: 10%
7.2%
CT: 10%
5.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
88%
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1969
2 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
20.7%±4.6Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #79 of 149 in CT — #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Bolton School District Union School District Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School Bolton High School None in town Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
7.4Lowest
—
9.5
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.