Compare towns
Killingly vs Putnam vs Spencer vs Thompson
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Spencer | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
9,292Lowest |
12,008 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Thompson 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% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Spencer 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. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Spencer 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Spencer 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Thompson 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | David Prouty High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.5 |
9.9 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.