Compare towns
Killingly vs Thompson vs Bethany 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Bethany | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
9,337 |
5,288Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 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% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Killingly 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 |
$8,313Highest 25% 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% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Killingly 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest 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 |
1970Highest 3 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 |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Bethany 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 | #30 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 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | 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.