Compare towns
Putnam vs Wakefield vs Killingly vs Winchester
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).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Wakefield | Killingly | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
27,793Highest |
17,867 |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% 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%±1.7 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. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% 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. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% 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. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester and Wakefield 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% |
12.8%Highest 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% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
6.9%±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 | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | — | Killingly High School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.