Compare towns

Killingly vs Ludlow vs Plainfield 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).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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.

MeasureKillinglyLudlowPlainfieldPutnam
People
Population
17,867
20,904Highest
15,141
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
44.3±1.8Highest
14% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
Ludlow and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Plainfield 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%
21.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Ludlow 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%
27%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield 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.
$84,838±$7kHighest
5% above U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Ludlow and Killingly 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.
$335,300±$10kHighest
about the U.S. average
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,223±$82Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Ludlow and Plainfield 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.
$4,918Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
50.7%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ludlow and Killingly 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%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ludlow 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 #154 of 282 in MA #131 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ludlow Plainfield School District Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School Ludlow Senior High Plainfield High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
11.1Highest
10.3
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.