Compare towns
Killingly vs Pepperell vs Putnam vs Smithfield
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).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Smithfield 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 | Pepperell | Putnam | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
11,663 |
9,292Lowest |
22,233Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Killingly 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% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Pepperell 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Smithfield 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #8 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex | Putnam School District | Smithfield |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Smithfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.