Compare towns
Bethel vs Putnam vs Ellington
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 most expensive homes ($435k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Ellington has the most kids (24% 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 | Bethel | Putnam | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,796Highest |
9,292Lowest |
16,455 |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest 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%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Bethel 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%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington 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±$7k 22% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,600±$16kHighest 18% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142 10% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Ellington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 23% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,751 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethel and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington and Bethel 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 | #100 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Putnam School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Putnam High School | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.