Compare towns

Killingly vs Plainfield vs Colchester vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Colchester has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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.

MeasureKillinglyPlainfieldColchesterPutnam
People
Population
17,867Highest
15,141
15,648
9,292Lowest
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
43.5±3.8
6% above CT
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
Putnam and Colchester 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%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
20.7%±2.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Colchester 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
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.3%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Colchester 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%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
49.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.6%±1.3
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
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±$8k
12% below CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
$122,390±$14kHighest
28% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
$366,800±$16kHighest
about the CT average
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,474±$153Highest
about the CT average
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
$6,212Highest
6% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
44.4%±10.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Colchester 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%
8.7%
CT: 10%
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
76.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1984Highest
17 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
30 minHighest
14% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
18.4%±3.8Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #64 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 Colchester School District Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School Plainfield High School Bacon Academy Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.3
9.8
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.