Compare towns
Killingly vs Columbia vs Willimantic vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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 | Willimantic | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
5,300Lowest |
18,096Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| 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%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Willimantic 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 |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,678 30% below 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% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #114 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 | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.