Compare towns

Putnam vs Smithfield vs Putnam 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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutnamSmithfieldPutnamKillingly
People
Population
9,292
22,233Highest
7,120Lowest
17,867
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
41.2±5.1
6% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Putnam and Smithfield 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%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3
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%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,147±$43
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% 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%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Killingly 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%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield 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 #8 of 38 in RI #128 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Smithfield — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Putnam High School Smithfield High School — Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.8Highest
—
11.1
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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.