Compare towns
Killingly vs Putnam vs Bristol vs Plainfield
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 highest household income ($84k).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Bristol has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Bristol | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
9,292Lowest |
61,462Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Killingly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Killingly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Killingly 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Bristol School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | Bristol Central High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.5Lowest |
14.0Highest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.