Compare towns
Killingly vs Spencer vs Scotland 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).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Scotland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Spencer | Scotland | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
12,008 |
1,599Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.7±5 15% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Scotland 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scotland 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 4% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$99,881±$12kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Scotland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$294,100±$20k 12% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,188±$468Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Scotland 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. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
$6,175Highest 98% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Scotland 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Spencer-E Brookfield | Scotland School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | David Prouty High | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.9 |
— | 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.