Compare towns
Thompson vs Sterling vs Killingly vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Thompson | Sterling | Killingly | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Sterling and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Sterling 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
9.5 |
| 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.