Compare towns
Putnam vs Crystal Lake vs Killingly vs Winchester
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).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
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 | Crystal Lake | Killingly | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
2,024Lowest |
17,867Highest |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.9±7.6 19% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
| Winchester and Crystal Lake 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% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Crystal Lake 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 |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,174±$116Highest 21% below CT |
| Winchester 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 |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Winchester 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% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
17.5%±10Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Crystal Lake 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Killingly High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.