Compare towns

Putnam vs Upton vs Lancaster 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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.

MeasurePutnamUptonLancasterKillingly
People
Population
9,292
8,189Lowest
8,606
17,867Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Upton 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
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Killingly 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%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Lancaster 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%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Putnam 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.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
Upton and Lancaster 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.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Upton 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Nashoba Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Putnam High School Blackstone Valley None in town Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.2Highest
—
11.1
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.