Compare towns
Needham vs Killingly 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
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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 | Needham | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
17,867 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
| Needham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school 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 |
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.

