Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Griswold 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Preston | Griswold | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
11,530 |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Griswold and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Preston 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±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Preston and Griswold 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 |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Griswold School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Griswold High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.5Highest |
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.