Compare towns
Putnam vs Northampton vs Killingly vs Thompson
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 affordable homes ($269k median).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Northampton | Killingly | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
30,962Highest |
17,867 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Northampton 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$80,288±$6k about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 19% below U.S. |
$429,700±$17kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Thompson 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% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #159 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Northampton High | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
14.7Highest |
11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.