Compare towns

Plainfield vs Providence 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

Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldProvidenceKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
15,141
191,767Highest
17,867
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Providence and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
11.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$4,418Highest
42% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Providence and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
10%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Providence 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 #131 of 149 in CT #36 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Classical High School Killingly High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
17.2Highest
11.1
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.