Compare towns
New Preston vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Kent
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Preston has the most people working from home (32.3%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 Preston | Killingly | Putnam | Kent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,146Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
3,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 51.8±12.8 26% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT |
| Kent and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.3%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.6%±6.5 CT: 18.5% |
| New Preston and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
55.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,406±$28k 20% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$96,064±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Kent and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,600±$43k 23% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$470,900±$78kHighest 28% above CT |
| Kent and New Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
| Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,528Lowest 47% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$4,520Highest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±89.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
11.5%±11.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
20 minLowest 23% below CT |
| Work from home | 32.3%±28Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
21.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| New Preston and Kent 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #20 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Kent School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.