Compare towns
Putnam vs Gardner vs Brooklyn vs Killingly
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Gardner | Brooklyn | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
21,148Highest |
8,517Lowest |
17,867 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brooklyn 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Gardner 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% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn 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±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,538Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Gardner | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Gardner High | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.