Compare towns
Killingly vs Chester vs Putnam vs Plainville
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).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Chester | Putnam | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,825Lowest |
9,292 |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Plainville 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Chester 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 21% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester 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% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chester School District | Putnam School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.