Compare towns
Killingly vs Exeter vs Charlestown vs Putnam
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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Charlestown has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
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 | Exeter | Charlestown | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
7,195Lowest |
8,051 |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Exeter 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% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Charlestown 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 4% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,404±$10k 36% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Charlestown 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. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,374±$134Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Charlestown and Exeter 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. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Charlestown 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlestown and Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #10 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Exeter-West Greenwich | Chariho | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | 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 |
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.