Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Winchester 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).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
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 | Winchester | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
10,284 |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Winchester 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 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 |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Preston and Winchester 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,780Highest 28% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Winchester 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% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 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 | #97 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 | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.7 |
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.