Compare towns

Putnam vs Killingly vs Shelton 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).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
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.

MeasurePutnamKillinglySheltonGriswold
People
Population
9,292Lowest
17,867
41,889Highest
11,530
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+3.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
44.5±1.5
8% above CT
48.1±3.9Highest
17% above CT
Griswold and Shelton 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%
18.9%±1.7
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±3.7Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Shelton 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%
21.4%±1.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Shelton 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%
41.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.8%±1Highest
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Shelton 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
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$108,185±$11kHighest
13% above CT
$78,719±$11k
18% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$452,600±$13kHighest
23% above CT
$275,900±$42k
25% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,741±$216Highest
17% above CT
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$5,409Highest
19% 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%
53.8%±9.8
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Griswold and Shelton 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%
6.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
7.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
76.5%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
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
30 min
14% above CT
31 minHighest
17% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
13.9%±2.8Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
Shelton 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 #71 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 Shelton School District Griswold School District
High school in town Putnam High School Killingly High School Shelton High School Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.1
14.3Highest
11.5
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.