Compare towns
Killingly vs Walpole vs Wakefield 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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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.
| Measure | Killingly | Walpole | Wakefield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
26,388 |
27,793Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Wakefield 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% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Walpole 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 4% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$8,523Highest 173% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wakefield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole and Wakefield 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Walpole High | — | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.3Highest |
— | 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.