Compare towns
Putnam vs Killingly vs Sturbridge vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Sturbridge | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,120Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,960 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Sturbridge 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 19% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Thompson 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
7.9 |
| 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.