Compare towns
Killingly vs Chaplin vs Crystal Lake 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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Chaplin | Crystal Lake | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
2,070 |
2,024Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Chaplin 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Crystal Lake and Chaplin 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Crystal Lake 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 |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Crystal Lake 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 | — | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Parish Hill High School | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | 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.