Compare towns

Plainfield vs Killingly vs Watertown vs Putnam

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).
Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Watertown has the highest household income ($102k).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldKillinglyWatertownPutnam
People
Population
15,141
17,867
22,253Highest
9,292Lowest
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
46.3±2.9Highest
13% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Watertown and Putnam 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%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
17.7%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Plainfield 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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
23.3%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Watertown and Killingly 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%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
38.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield and Killingly 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
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$101,691±$7kHighest
6% above CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$333,500±$16kHighest
9% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,275±$227Highest
14% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Watertown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209
37% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$6,014Highest
9% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
56.6%±13.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Watertown 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%
11.4%
CT: 10%
4.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
83.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1969
2 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
28 minHighest
5% above CT
24 minLowest
10% below CT
25 min
6% below CT
Work from home
10%±4
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Highest
CT: 16%
10.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Killingly and Watertown 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 #131 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #126 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Watertown School District Putnam School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Killingly High School Watertown High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
11.1Highest
10.6
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.