Compare towns
Stafford vs Putnam vs Killingly vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Stafford | Putnam | Killingly | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,511 |
7,120Lowest |
17,867Highest |
16,455 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16k about the CT average |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85 27% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131 23% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #96 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | — | Killingly High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.