Compare towns
Killingly vs Columbia vs Durham 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).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Columbia | Durham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
5,300Lowest |
7,208 |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Columbia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Columbia 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 |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Durham and Columbia 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 |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,154±$448Highest 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Durham and Putnam 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 |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Durham 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% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Durham 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
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.