Compare towns
Killingly vs Putnam vs Sterling vs Thomaston
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 expensive homes ($289k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Sterling | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
9,292 |
3,629Lowest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Putnam and Thomaston 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Thomaston 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Thomaston 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
| Thomaston and Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
— | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Sterling School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | None in town | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.