Compare towns
Killingly vs Smithfield vs Webster 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 people working from home (14%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Webster | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
22,233Highest |
17,748 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Smithfield 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% 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% |
5.8%±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. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below 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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Webster and Putnam 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. |
$3,999 28% 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% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest 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. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above 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% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Smithfield | Webster | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Smithfield High School | Bartlett High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.8Highest |
11.6 |
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.