Compare towns

Killingly vs Preston vs Putnam vs Winsted

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).
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).

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.

MeasureKillinglyPrestonPutnamWinsted
People
Population
17,867Highest
4,821Lowest
9,292
6,977
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
-6.7%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
46.2±7
12% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
47.6±7.3Highest
16% above CT
Winsted 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%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
14.4%±3.3Lowest
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%±4.7
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
25%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
Winsted and Preston 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%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
26.8%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4
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
$70,561±$7k
26% below CT
$64,871±$12kLowest
32% 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
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$218,900±$14kLowest
40% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,183±$130
20% below CT
Preston and Winsted 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
$3,860
42% below CT
$3,754Lowest
43% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
45.5%±16.7
CT: 52.6%
Preston and Winsted 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%
11.5%
CT: 10%
15.9%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
54.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1970Highest
3 yrs newer than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1942Lowest
25 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
25 min
5% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Highest
CT: 16%
10.3%±6
CT: 16%
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
7.7%±3.5Lowest
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 #128 of 149 in CT —
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Preston School District Putnam School District —
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Putnam High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
—
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.