Compare towns
Putnam vs Ayer vs Putnam 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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
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 | Putnam | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,645 |
7,120Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest 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% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 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±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer 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±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 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% |
10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 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 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.