Compare towns
Lancaster vs Putnam vs Killingly
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 (40.2% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Lancaster | Putnam | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
9,292 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Killingly 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.