Compare towns

Killingly vs Voluntown vs Bethlehem 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).
Voluntown has the most homeowners (83.5%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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.

MeasureKillinglyVoluntownBethlehemPutnam
People
Population
17,867Highest
2,604Lowest
3,423
9,292
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
48.3±1.7
18% above CT
51.5±8.5Highest
25% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Bethlehem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.5
CT: 20.2%
16.3%±4Lowest
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%
17.6%±3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±5.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Bethlehem 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%
26.7%
CT: 42.5%
39.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.5%±3.1
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Bethlehem 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
$101,964±$25k
6% above CT
$108,929±$16kHighest
14% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Bethlehem and Voluntown 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
$356,100±$16k
about the CT average
$410,900±$36kHighest
12% above CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,166±$191Highest
22% below CT
$1,127±$124
24% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Voluntown 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
$4,955
25% below CT
$5,932Highest
11% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
42.9%±24.3
CT: 52.6%
69.7%±38.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Bethlehem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
CT: 10%
7.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.4%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
83.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
70.2%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1983Highest
16 yrs newer than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
31 minHighest
18% above CT
29 min
9% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
8.9%±5.4Lowest
CT: 16%
13.9%±5Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
Bethlehem and Killingly 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 #53 of 149 in CT #82 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Voluntown School District Regional School District 14 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

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.