Compare towns

Killingly vs Columbia vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks

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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureKillinglyColumbiaPutnamWindsor Locks
People
Population
17,867Highest
5,300Lowest
9,292
12,579
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
51.3±10.3Highest
25% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
Columbia and Putnam 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%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
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%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.8%±2.5
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks 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
$127,000±$30kHighest
33% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$81,205±$13k
15% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$361,500±$16kHighest
about the CT average
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$966±$304Lowest
35% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,394±$187Highest
6% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$5,228Highest
21% below CT
$3,860
42% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
17.6%±16.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks 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%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
10.9%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
83.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
32 minHighest
21% above CT
25 min
6% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
21.6%±6Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
Columbia and Windsor Locks 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 #128 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Columbia School District Putnam School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Putnam High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
—
9.5
8.9Lowest
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.