Compare towns
Killingly vs Sunderland vs Whately 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).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Whately has the highest household income ($117k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sunderland | Whately | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,641 |
1,499Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
35.1±1.9Lowest 10% below U.S. |
49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Whately 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% |
9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 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% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whately 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% |
62.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
25.5%±9.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$68,083±$3kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$458,100±$52kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$431,500±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Sunderland and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,672±$151Highest 18% above U.S. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,611Highest 80% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
42%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately and Sunderland 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 | #220 of 282 in MA | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sunderland | Whately | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 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.