Compare towns
Baltic vs Sterling vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Baltic | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,157Lowest |
3,629 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
20%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Sterling and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141Highest 16% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Baltic and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Putnam 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Sterling School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.