Compare towns
Putnam vs Orange vs Killingly vs Winchester
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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Orange | Killingly | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
14,315 |
17,867Highest |
10,284 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
| Winchester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Killingly 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange 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±$7k 26% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.