Compare towns
Bethany vs Putnam vs Durham
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 most kids (20.3% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Putnam | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
9,292Highest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
| Durham and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Durham 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Putnam 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,154±$448Highest 22% below CT |
| Durham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Bethany 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.