Compare towns

Killingly vs Salem 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%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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.

MeasureKillinglySalemPutnam
People
Population
17,867Highest
4,282Lowest
7,120
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
40.9±5.4
about the CT average
41.2±5.1Highest
about the CT average
Putnam and Salem 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%
23.2%±5.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3Lowest
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%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±4.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
50.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.8%±3.3Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Lowest
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
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$403,600±$33kHighest
10% above CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,440±$150Highest
3% below CT
$1,147±$43
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$6,668Highest
about the CT average
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
32.1%±26Lowest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
Killingly and Putnam 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%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
86.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
32 minHighest
19% above CT
25 minLowest
5% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
18%±9.6Highest
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
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 —
High school in town Killingly High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.