Compare towns
Bethel vs Putnam vs Danbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the highest household income ($117k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Danbury has the most renters (46.2% 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 | Bethel | Putnam | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,796 |
9,292Lowest |
87,263Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
40.6±1.3Lowest about the CT average |
| Putnam and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethel and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Danbury and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,541±$7kHighest 22% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
| Bethel and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142 10% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 23% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,877 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Danbury and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Putnam High School | Danbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
9.5Lowest |
15.7Highest |
| 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.