Compare towns
Killingly vs New Preston vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($84k).
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | New Preston | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
1,146Lowest |
15,141 |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.8±12.8Highest 26% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| New Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±4.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| New Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$76,406±$28k 20% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$452,600±$43kHighest 23% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 |
$3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$4,209Highest 37% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
85.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Killingly 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | — | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3 |
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.