Compare towns

Putnam vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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.

MeasurePutnamWakefieldKillingly
People
Population
9,292Lowest
27,793Highest
17,867
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Putnam and Wakefield 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%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield 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%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Wakefield 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%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Wakefield 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.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,958±$102Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Wakefield 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%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #179 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Putnam High School — 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.