Compare towns
Putnam vs Madison vs Killingly 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).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Madison | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
17,616 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest 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% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison 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% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Madison 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 |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,843Highest 33% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Madison 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 CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Madison School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Daniel Hand High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
9.8 |
11.1 |
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.