Compare towns

Putnam vs Killingly vs Chaplin vs Plainville

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).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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.

MeasurePutnamKillinglyChaplinPlainville
People
Population
9,292
17,867Highest
2,070Lowest
17,551
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
44.3±1.5Highest
8% above CT
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
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Putnam 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%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
20.9%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
Chaplin and Plainville 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%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
30%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin 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
26% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$97,846±$14kHighest
about the CT average
$84,343±$7k
12% below CT
Chaplin 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
27% below CT
$288,600±$15kHighest
21% below CT
$255,200±$24k
30% below CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
Killingly and Putnam 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
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$4,524
32% below CT
$4,798Highest
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4
CT: 52.6%
Killingly and Plainville 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%
11.4%
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
82.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
32 minHighest
22% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±2
CT: 16%
Chaplin 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 — #89 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Putnam High School Killingly High School Parish Hill High School Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
11.1
7.5Lowest
11.4Highest
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.