Compare towns
Killingly vs Meriden vs Norwich 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 people working from home (11.1%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Meriden | Norwich | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
60,545Highest |
39,973 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Killingly and Putnam 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 |
$1,294±$72Highest 13% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Meriden and Norwich 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 |
$5,129Highest 23% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Norwich Free Academy | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
16.2Highest |
14.8 |
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.