Compare towns
Bridgeport vs Putnam vs Stratford
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 renters (57.2% rent).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Stratford has the most people working from home (14.6%).
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 | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 149,153Highest |
9,292Lowest |
52,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.7±1.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Stratford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±0.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±1.3Lowest 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%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
20.7%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stratford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$95,815±$7kHighest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,900±$9k 25% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$372,200±$8kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,450±$35 about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,706±$75Highest 15% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,496 about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,420Highest 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.3%±7.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgeport and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1961Highest 6 yrs older than CT |
1958 9 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
14.6%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #148 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #134 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District | Putnam School District | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | Central High School | Putnam High School | Stratford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.6Highest |
9.5Lowest |
13.9 |
| 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.