Compare towns
Putnam vs Killingly vs Preston vs Griswold
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).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Killingly | Preston | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
11,530 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
| Griswold and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| Preston 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 27% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Preston and Griswold 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 |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.