Compare towns
Killingly vs Plainville vs Sterling vs Putnam
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 most expensive homes ($289k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Plainville | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
17,551 |
3,629Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%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 |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| 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.