Compare towns

Providence vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Johnston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Johnston has the highest household income ($92k).

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.

MeasureProvidenceKillinglyPutnamJohnston
People
Population
191,767Highest
17,867
9,292Lowest
29,835
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Johnston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4Lowest
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+
11.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
$91,866±$6kHighest
14% above U.S.
Johnston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$355,500±$13k
7% above U.S.
Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,275±$132
10% below U.S.
Providence and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$4,614Highest
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7
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
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3
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 #36 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #32 of 38 in RI
School district MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District Johnston
High school in town Classical High School Killingly High School Putnam High School Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
17.2Highest
11.1
9.5Lowest
10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

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.