Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Killingly 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 (40.2% rent).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Ayer | Killingly | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,645Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest 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% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Thompson 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. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest 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% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
11.5Highest |
11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.