Compare towns
Ansonia vs Columbia vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ansonia has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Ansonia | Columbia | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,033Highest |
5,300Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.1±1.6Lowest about the CT average |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Columbia and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Putnam 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% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,446Highest 18% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±10Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Ansonia and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.9 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Columbia School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.