Compare towns
Killingly vs Windsor vs Chester 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).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Windsor | Chester | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
29,468Highest |
3,825Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Windsor 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% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
43.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor 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 |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Chester and Windsor 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 |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,549±$247 4% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Windsor and Chester 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 |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chester and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Chester School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Windsor High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.2 |
— | 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.