Compare towns
Killingly vs Smithfield vs Plainville 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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Smithfield | Plainville | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
22,233Highest |
17,551 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Plainville 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainville 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #89 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School | Plainville High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.8Highest |
11.4 |
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.