Compare towns
Putnam vs Barre vs Killingly vs Plainville
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).
Barre has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Barre | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
5,572Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Barre 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. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainville 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. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Plainville 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Killingly 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Quabbin | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Quabbin Regional High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.1 |
11.4 |
| 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.