Compare towns
Putnam vs Sterling vs Danielson 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Sterling | Danielson | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292 |
8,183 |
4,209Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Danielson 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson 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 13% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sterling and Danielson 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Wachusett | — | 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 | 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.