Compare towns

Putnam vs Killingly vs Smithfield

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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).

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.

MeasurePutnamKillinglySmithfield
People
Population
9,292Lowest
17,867
22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
Putnam and Smithfield 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%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
Putnam and Killingly 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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield 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
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield 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 #8 of 38 in RI
School district Putnam School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Smithfield
High school in town Putnam High School Killingly High School Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.1
11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.