Compare towns
Putnam vs Berlin 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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Berlin | Thompson | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
3,378Lowest |
9,337 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Thompson and Berlin 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% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Thompson 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% |
48.3%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% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Berlin 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. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% 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. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% 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% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Berlin 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Berlin-Boylston | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | 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.