Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Killingly vs Woodstock
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Woodstock has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Woodstock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,098Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,319 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.3±5.9Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Woodstock and Putnam 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% |
19%±3.7 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woodstock and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest 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±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$112,011±$21kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Woodstock and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$417,200±$22k 25% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,202±$94 15% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,357Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±16Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Woodstock 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #85 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Woodstock School District · The Woodstock Academy District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Killingly High School | The Woodstock Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
16.2Highest |
| 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.