Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainfield vs North Smithfield 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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | North Smithfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
15,141 |
12,708 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Putnam 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest 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% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 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 |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | North Smithfield | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | North Smitfield HS | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3 |
12.1Highest |
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.