Compare towns

Putnam vs Bethlehem vs Griswold vs Killingly

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Griswold has the most homeowners (73.3%).
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.

MeasurePutnamBethlehemGriswoldKillingly
People
Population
9,292
3,423Lowest
11,530
17,867Highest
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
51.5±8.5Highest
25% above CT
48.1±3.9
17% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
Bethlehem and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
16.3%±4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±3.7
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±5.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
Bethlehem 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%
CT: 42.5%
39.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
4.5%±3.1
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Bethlehem 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
26% below CT
$108,929±$16kHighest
14% above CT
$78,719±$11k
18% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$410,900±$36kHighest
12% above CT
$275,900±$42k
25% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,127±$124
24% below CT
$1,177±$65Highest
21% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$5,932Highest
11% below CT
$4,628
30% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
69.7%±38.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
Bethlehem and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
10.4%
CT: 10%
7.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
70.2%
CT: 66.5%
73.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
29 min
9% above CT
31 minHighest
17% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
13.9%±5Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
Bethlehem 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 #82 of 149 in CT #118 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Regional School District 14 Griswold 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 Griswold 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 None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.