Compare towns
Thomaston vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Stafford has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Thomaston | Killingly | Putnam | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
17,867Highest |
7,120Lowest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest 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+ | 34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Thomaston and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
| Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,147±$43Highest 23% below CT |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Putnam and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Killingly and Stafford 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | — | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.