Compare towns
New Haven vs Killingly vs Putnam vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
West Haven has the most expensive homes ($292k 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.
| Measure | New Haven | Killingly | Putnam | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 134,349Highest |
17,867 |
9,292Lowest |
55,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,851±$4kLowest 41% below CT |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Killingly and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,100±$16k 22% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
| West Haven and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,488±$33Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,430 3% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±3.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| New Haven and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 min 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±1.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| New Haven 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 | #145 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Wilbur Cross High School | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7 |
11.1 |
9.5Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.