Compare towns

Killingly vs Thomaston vs Watertown vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Watertown has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
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.

MeasureKillinglyThomastonWatertownPutnam
People
Population
17,867
7,492Lowest
22,253Highest
9,292
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
46.3±2.9Highest
13% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Watertown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
17.7%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 18.5%
23.3%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Watertown 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%
CT: 42.5%
34%
CT: 42.5%
38.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Thomaston 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
12% below CT
$103,218±$15kHighest
8% above CT
$101,691±$7k
6% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Thomaston and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$282,600±$23k
23% below CT
$333,500±$16kHighest
9% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$1,275±$227Highest
14% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Watertown and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$5,915
11% below CT
$6,014Highest
9% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22Highest
CT: 52.6%
56.6%±13.3
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Thomaston and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
4.3%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
77.7%
CT: 66.5%
83.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1969Highest
2 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
24 minLowest
10% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Highest
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
10.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
Killingly and Watertown 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 #106 of 149 in CT #126 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Thomaston School District Watertown School District Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School Thomaston High School Watertown High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.7
10.6
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.