Compare towns

Putnam vs Killingly vs Winsted 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).
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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.

MeasurePutnamKillinglyWinstedThompson
People
Population
7,120
17,867Highest
6,977Lowest
9,337
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
-6.7%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
41.2±5.1
about the CT average
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
47.6±7.3
16% above CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
Thompson and Winsted 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%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
14.4%±3.3
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
25%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3
CT: 18.5%
Winsted and Thompson 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%
26.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
21.9%
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%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,511±$7k
32% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$64,871±$12kLowest
32% 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±$13k
33% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$218,900±$14kLowest
40% 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
$1,183±$130Highest
20% below CT
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
Winsted 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
$3,922Highest
41% below CT
$3,754
43% 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%
45.5%±16.7
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
Thompson and Winsted 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%
15.9%Highest
CT: 10%
5.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
54.7%
CT: 66.5%
84.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1968Highest
1 yr newer than CT
1942Lowest
25 yrs older than CT
1963
4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
25 min
5% below CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
Work from home
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
7.7%±3.5
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 — #130 of 149 in CT
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Thompson School District
High school in town — Killingly High School — Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
—
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.