Compare towns
Killingly vs Dalton vs Putnam vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Dalton | Putnam | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
6,256Lowest |
9,292 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #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 | Central Berkshire | Putnam School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Wahconah Regional High | Putnam High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.9 |
9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.