What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgeport has the most renters (57.2% rent).

Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgeport	Putnam
People
Population	149,153Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
Kids under 18	20.9%±0.8Highest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Bridgeport and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT	$70,561±$7kHighest 26% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,900±$9kHighest 25% below CT	$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT
	Bridgeport and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,450±$35Highest about the CT average	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,496Highest about the CT average	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line	21%Highest CT: 10%	11.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT	1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 15% above CT	25 minLowest 6% below CT
Work from home	7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Highest CT: 16%
	Putnam and Bridgeport 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	#148 of 149 in CT	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District	Putnam School District
High school in town	Central High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	18.6Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.