Compare towns
Putnam vs Killingly vs Preston vs North Canaan
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).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
North Canaan has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Preston | North Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120 |
17,867Highest |
4,821 |
3,221Lowest |
| 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 |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
35.7±5.7Lowest 13% below CT |
| Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
26.5%±7.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| North Canaan and Killingly 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$71,976±$26k 25% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$267,300±$59k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,146±$152 23% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,893 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
25.1%±14.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
22 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
12.1%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
| North Canaan 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #91 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | North Canaan School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.