Compare towns

Killingly vs Willington vs Smithfield 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 most kids (19.8% under 18).
Willington has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).

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.

MeasureKillinglyWillingtonSmithfieldPutnam
People
Population
17,867
5,575Lowest
22,233Highest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
37.5±7.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
Putnam and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Willington and Smithfield 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%
33.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
14.6%±6.8
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Smithfield and Willington 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.
$91,114±$12k
13% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Smithfield and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$305,800±$48k
8% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,357±$116Highest
4% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$5,419Highest
74% above U.S.
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
70%±20.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Willington and Smithfield 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%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
64%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield 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 #104 of 149 in CT #8 of 38 in RI #128 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Willington School District Smithfield Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Smithfield High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
—
11.8Highest
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.