Compare towns
Putnam vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Killingly | Plainfield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 | $65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,209Highest 37% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.