Compare towns

Killingly vs Needham vs Windsor Locks 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.

MeasureKillinglyNeedhamWindsor LocksPutnam
People
Population
17,867
32,459Highest
12,579
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
Putnam and Needham 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%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks 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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,394±$187
about the U.S. average
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Needham 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Windsor Locks School District Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School — Windsor Locks High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
—
8.9Lowest
9.5
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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.