Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Thompson vs Killingly
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 expensive homes ($445k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Thompson | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,098Lowest |
9,337 |
17,867Highest |
| 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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Ayer 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | 7.9Lowest |
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.