Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainfield vs Athol 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 highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Athol | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
15,141 |
12,011 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Athol 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| 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±$15kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athol 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. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Killingly and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Athol-Royalston | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Athol High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3 |
11.6Highest |
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.