Compare towns

Lancaster vs Putnam vs Killingly vs Devens

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).

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.

MeasureLancasterPutnamKillinglyDevens
People
Population
8,606
7,120
17,867Highest
1,723Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
41.2±5.1
6% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.6±4.3Highest
25% above U.S.
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$189,250±$63kHighest
134% above U.S.
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$556,800±$96kHighest
67% above U.S.
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,147±$43
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,500±$539
6% above U.S.
Lancaster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$5,556
78% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.3%±36.7
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Devens and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1950Lowest
30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
28.5%±11.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Devens 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 #145 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT —
School district Nashoba — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS —
High school in town None in town — Killingly High School —
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
—
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.