Compare towns

Plainfield vs Ellington vs Putnam vs Killingly

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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.

MeasurePlainfieldEllingtonPutnamKillingly
People
Population
15,141
16,455
9,292Lowest
17,867Highest
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
40.9±2.4
about the CT average
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
Putnam and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
24%±3.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.8%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
51.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
6%±2.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
Ellington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
$129,913±$17kHighest
36% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
$366,900±$17kHighest
about the CT average
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,737±$212Highest
17% above CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209
37% below CT
$6,751Highest
about the CT average
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
45.5%±10.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
72.2%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
31 minHighest
18% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
Work from home
10%±4
CT: 16%
18.4%±3.9Highest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #131 of 149 in CT #46 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Ellington School District Putnam School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Plainfield High School Ellington High School Putnam High School Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
10.3
9.5Lowest
11.1Highest
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.