Compare towns
Killingly vs Thompson vs Ashford 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Thompson | Ashford | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
9,337 |
4,226Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Ashford 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Ashford and Thompson 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 |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District | Ashford School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | 9.5 |
| 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.



