Compare towns
Bethany vs Putnam vs Durham vs Burlington
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 homeowners (97.2%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Burlington has the most kids (25.9% under 18).
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 | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
9,292 |
7,208 |
9,680Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| 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%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Burlington and Bethany 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest 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% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington and Bethany 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 |
$165,120±$13k 72% above CT |
| Bethany and Burlington 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 |
$418,700±$21k 14% above CT |
| Durham and Burlington 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±$448 22% below CT |
$1,427±$671Highest 4% below CT |
| Burlington and Durham 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 |
$7,464 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Burlington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
94.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 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 |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Burlington and Durham 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 | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
8.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.