Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Johnston 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Johnston | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
4,821Lowest |
29,835Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Preston and Johnston 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% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Johnston 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% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston 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. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Preston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Preston and Johnston 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. |
$4,749Highest 52% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Killingly 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Johnston | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Johnston Senior High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3 |
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.