Compare towns

Killingly vs Putnam vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureKillinglyPutnamSmithfieldPlainville
People
Population
17,867
9,292Lowest
22,233Highest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above 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%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield and Plainville 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%
40%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%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Putnam and Plainville 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.
$5,207Highest
67% 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%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%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.
1976Highest
4 yrs older 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.
25 min
7% 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%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield 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 #8 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 Smithfield Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Putnam High School Smithfield High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
9.5Lowest
11.8Highest
11.4
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.