Compare towns

Killingly vs Needham vs Putnam vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureKillinglyNeedhamPutnamPlainfield
People
Population
17,867
32,459Highest
9,292Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below 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%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
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%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%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%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Needham Putnam School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School Needham High Putnam High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.9Highest
9.5Lowest
10.3
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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.