Compare towns
Putnam vs Shirley vs Killingly
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 renters (40.2% rent).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Shirley | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,292 |
6,976Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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 13% below U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,156Highest 65% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.