Compare towns
Putnam vs Killingly vs Spencer vs Putnam
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).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Spencer | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
17,867Highest |
12,008 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
| Spencer 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Killingly and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% 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% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Spencer-E Brookfield | — |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Killingly High School | David Prouty High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.9 |
— |
| 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.