Compare towns

Putnam vs Durham vs Plainfield 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).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutnamDurhamPlainfieldKillingly
People
Population
9,292
7,208Lowest
15,141
17,867Highest
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
45.5±2.8Highest
11% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
Durham 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
CT: 20.2%
16.4%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Plainfield 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%
17.4%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4Highest
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%
47.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield 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±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$424,800±$23kHighest
16% above CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,154±$448
22% below CT
$1,204±$70Highest
19% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
Plainfield and Durham 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
$7,998Highest
20% above CT
$4,209
37% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±28.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
Durham 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
CT: 10%
3.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
23 minLowest
13% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
28 minHighest
5% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #88 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Regional School District 13 Plainfield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Putnam High School Coginchaug Regional High School Plainfield High School Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
8.9Lowest
10.3
11.1Highest
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.