Compare towns
Killingly vs Saugus vs Wakefield vs Putnam
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).
Saugus has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Saugus | Wakefield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
28,773Highest |
27,793 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Wakefield 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #194 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Saugus | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Saugus High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
15.5Highest |
10.7 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.