Compare towns
Bethany vs Putnam vs Washington
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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
9,292Highest |
3,676Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington 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%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Washington 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%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Putnam 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% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$264Highest 19% below CT |
| Washington 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Washington 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% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.