Compare towns
Killingly vs Putnam vs Columbia
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Putnam | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
7,120 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Columbia 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,147±$43Highest 23% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Putnam and Killingly 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 |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.