Compare towns
Killingly vs Oakham vs Spencer 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).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 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 | Oakham | Spencer | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
1,639Lowest |
12,008 |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Oakham 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Spencer 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. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Spencer 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. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin | Spencer-E Brookfield | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | David Prouty High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.9 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.