Compare towns
Putnam vs Norwalk vs Killingly vs Thompson
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
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 | Norwalk | Killingly | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
92,187Highest |
17,867 |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Norwalk 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% |
17%±1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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 CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk 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 |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Norwalk and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 42% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Norwalk 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% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Norwalk and Thompson 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Norwalk School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Brien McMahon High School | 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 |
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.