Compare towns
Reading vs Putnam vs Killingly vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Northborough has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Reading | Putnam | Killingly | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,612Highest |
7,120Lowest |
17,867 |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19k 90% above U.S. |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
| Reading and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northborough and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Northborough 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | — | Killingly High School | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.