Compare towns
Killingly vs Norwich vs Putnam vs Sterling
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 expensive homes ($289k median).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Norwich | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
39,973Highest |
9,292 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below 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% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% |
23.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich 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 12% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling 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±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling 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 |
$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
— |
| Norwich 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 |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 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 · Norwich School District | Putnam School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Norwich Free Academy | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
14.8Highest |
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.