Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Killingly vs Putnam
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Ayer | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,098Lowest |
17,867Highest |
7,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.