Compare towns
Bridgeport vs Putnam vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgeport has the most expensive homes ($275k median).
Putnam has the most homeowners (59.8%).
Hartford has the most renters (74.3% 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 | Bridgeport | Putnam | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 149,153Highest |
9,292Lowest |
121,127 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 36.7±0.7 11% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
33.1±0.6Lowest 19% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±0.8 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±1.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Hartford and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
12.2%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
19.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Hartford and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,685±$2k 39% below CT |
$70,561±$7kHighest 26% below CT |
$46,411±$3kLowest 52% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,900±$9kHighest 25% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$228,600±$8kLowest 38% 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 |
$1,269±$25 15% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,496Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,603 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.4%±3.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgeport and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21% CT: 10% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
26.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
25.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 12 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9.4%±1.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Hartford and Putnam 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 | #146 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Judicial Centers |
| High school in town | Central High School | Putnam High School | Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
15.9 |
| 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.