Compare towns
Putnam vs Thompson vs Whitman 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Thompson | Whitman | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
15,295 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Killingly 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Whitman 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #191 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Whitman-Hanson | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
— | 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.