Compare towns
Winchester vs Killingly vs Orange vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Winchester | Killingly | Orange | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
17,867Highest |
14,315 |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Winchester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.1Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.