Compare towns
Killingly vs Shirley vs Putnam vs Plainfield
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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Shirley | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
6,976Lowest |
9,292 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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 4% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Plainfield 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. |
$5,156Highest 65% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Killingly 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #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 | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.