Compare towns

Putnam vs Cranston 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).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k median).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
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.

MeasurePutnamCranstonKillinglyPlainville
People
Population
9,292Lowest
83,250Highest
17,867
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
39.6±0.9
about the U.S. average
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.3±1.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Plainville and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±1.4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Cranston 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%
16.8%±1.1Lowest
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%
36.4%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%
6.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cranston and Plainville 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.
$90,206±$4kHighest
12% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$84,343±$7k
4% above U.S.
Cranston 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.
$378,300±$7kHighest
14% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,375±$59Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$5,103Highest
64% 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%
47.3%±6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Cranston and Killingly 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%
10.2%
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%
67.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 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.
24 min
8% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
Cranston 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 #27 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston 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 Cranston High School West Killingly High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
15.4Highest
11.1
11.4
On TownTapestry
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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.