Compare towns
Putnam vs Salem vs Killingly vs Pomfret
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).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Salem | Killingly | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
4,282Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,317 |
| Median age | 43.7±3 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.9±3.7Highest 12% above CT |
| Pomfret and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Pomfret 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% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Pomfret 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$108,476±$8k 13% above CT |
| Salem and Pomfret 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 |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$409,100±$28kHighest 12% above CT |
| Pomfret and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,210±$300 19% below CT |
| Salem and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$5,903 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Pomfret 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% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
80.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
| Salem and Pomfret 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Salem School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.