Compare towns
Bethany vs Bristol vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Bethany | Bristol | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
61,462Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethany and Bristol 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Bristol School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bristol Central High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.