Compare towns

Killingly vs Madison vs Norwalk vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Norwalk has the most renters (44.4% rent).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureKillinglyMadisonNorwalkPutnam
People
Population
17,867
17,616
92,187Highest
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.5%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
51.9±1.9Highest
26% above CT
40.6±1
about the CT average
43.7±3
6% above CT
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.1%±2.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.8%±1.2
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
25.2%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
17%±1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
72.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
44.8%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.5
CT: 7.1%
6.7%±0.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Norwalk and Madison 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
12% below CT
$167,442±$16kHighest
75% above CT
$107,616±$7k
12% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$583,900±$30kHighest
59% above CT
$558,000±$21k
52% above CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Madison and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$2,025±$741
36% above CT
$2,073±$87Highest
39% above CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Norwalk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$8,843Highest
33% above CT
$7,817
18% above CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
44%±12.3
CT: 52.6%
52.1%±5.2Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Norwalk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
CT: 10%
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
9.1%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
90.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
55.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
30 minHighest
12% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
30.2%±5.3Highest
CT: 16%
15.1%±1.4
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #7 of 149 in CT #112 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Madison School District Norwalk School District Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School Daniel Hand High School Brien McMahon High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
9.8
14.7Highest
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.