Compare towns

Killingly vs Putnam vs Exeter vs Plainville

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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

MeasureKillinglyPutnamExeterPlainville
People
Population
17,867Highest
9,292
7,195Lowest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Plainville 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
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Exeter 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%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Plainville 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Plainville 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.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$111,250±$30kHighest
38% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
Exeter 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
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,317±$307Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Exeter and Putnam 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.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
22 min
15% below U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter 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 #14 of 38 in RI #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District Exeter-West Greenwich Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Putnam High School None in town Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
9.5Lowest
—
11.4Highest
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.