Compare towns
Killingly vs Shelton vs Thompson 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).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Shelton | Thompson | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
41,889Highest |
9,337 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Shelton 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% |
21.4%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Shelton 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% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Shelton 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 |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Shelton and Thompson 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 |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$5,409Highest 19% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Shelton and Thompson 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 | #71 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Shelton School District | Thompson School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Shelton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
14.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.