Compare towns
Putnam vs Worcester vs Killingly vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Worcester | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
207,055Highest |
17,867 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | South High Community | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.1 |
11.4 |
| 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.