Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainville vs Putnam vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
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 | Plainville | Putnam | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
17,551 |
9,292 |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Salem 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Salem 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
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.