Compare towns

Killingly vs Lancaster vs Mendon 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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.

MeasureKillinglyLancasterMendonPutnam
People
Population
17,867Highest
8,606
6,325Lowest
7,120
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
44.1±4.4Highest
13% above U.S.
41.2±5.1
6% above U.S.
Mendon and Lancaster 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%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mendon 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%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Mendon 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
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$132,256±$33k
64% above U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Lancaster and Mendon 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.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$616,000±$37kHighest
85% above U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
Mendon and Lancaster 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.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,840±$196
30% above U.S.
$1,147±$43
19% below U.S.
Lancaster and Mendon 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.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$7,213
131% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
78.7%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon and Lancaster 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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #210 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Mendon-Upton —
High school in town Killingly High School None in town None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
— — —
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.