Compare towns

Putnam vs Willington vs Killingly vs Thompson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Willington has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasurePutnamWillingtonKillinglyThompson
People
Population
9,292
5,575Lowest
17,867Highest
9,337
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
37.5±7.2Lowest
9% below CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
12.8%±4.9
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23.3%±6.4
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Thompson and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
33.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
21.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
14.6%±6.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$91,114±$12k
5% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$93,629±$18kHighest
about the CT average
Thompson and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$305,800±$48kHighest
17% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$291,900±$24k
20% below CT
Willington and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,357±$116Highest
9% below CT
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
42% below CT
$5,419Highest
18% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,822Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
70%±20.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7
CT: 52.6%
Willington and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
CT: 10%
13%Highest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
5.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
64%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
84.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1963
4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
26 min
about the CT average
28 min
5% above CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
10.5%±4.7
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4Highest
CT: 16%
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 #104 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Willington School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Thompson School District
High school in town Putnam High School None in town Killingly High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
—
11.1Highest
7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.