Compare towns

Killingly vs Lancaster vs Thompson 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%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.

MeasureKillinglyLancasterThompsonPutnam
People
Population
17,867Highest
8,606Lowest
9,337
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Lancaster 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%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Lancaster 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%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Putnam 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.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Lancaster and Thompson 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±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$291,900±$24k
12% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Thompson 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%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #130 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Thompson School District Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
—
7.9Lowest
9.5
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.