Compare towns

Putnam vs Wakefield vs Killingly vs Putnam

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).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).

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.

MeasurePutnamWakefieldKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
9,292
27,793Highest
17,867
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-2.1%Lowest
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
41.2±5.1
6% above U.S.
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%
18.9%±4.3
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%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
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%
4.2%±1.8
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±$7k
13% below U.S.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% 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.
$1,147±$43
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% 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%
38.2%±12.1
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
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.
1956Lowest
24 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.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
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 #128 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
—
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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.