Compare towns
Killingly vs Nelson vs Putnam vs Plainville
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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.
| Measure | Killingly | Nelson | Putnam | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
648Lowest |
9,292 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Killingly 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Plainville 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Putnam 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nelson School District | Putnam School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.