Compare towns
Putnam vs Bristol vs Killingly vs Putnam
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Bristol has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Bristol | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
61,462Highest |
17,867 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT 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 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol 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 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Killingly 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 26% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
| Killingly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
| Killingly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
10.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bristol 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.0Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.