Compare towns
Killingly vs Salem vs Putnam vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,282Lowest |
7,120 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
41.2±5.1Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| 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% |
19.4%±2.6 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%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%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% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,209 37% 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% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% 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 |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.