Compare towns
Killingly vs Salem vs Colebrook vs Putnam
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Salem | Colebrook | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,282 |
1,494Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook 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% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Salem and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Salem and Colebrook 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 |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District | Colebrook School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.