Compare towns
Andover vs Durham vs Putnam vs Barkhamsted
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
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 | Andover | Durham | Putnam | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
7,208 |
9,292Highest |
3,678 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
50.2±3.3 22% above CT |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$123,544±$9k 29% above CT |
| Durham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36k about the CT average |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$368,000±$15k about the CT average |
| Durham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745Highest 22% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,164±$114 22% below CT |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,354 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Barkhamsted 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.5Highest |
— |
| 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.