What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most people working from home (11.4%).

Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

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	Bristol	Putnam
People
Population	61,462Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT	43.7±3Highest 6% above CT
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Putnam and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	20%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%	3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,076±$6kHighest 17% below CT	$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT
	Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT	$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT
	Bristol and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT	$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,449Highest 18% below CT	$3,860Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%	37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest CT: 10%	11.5%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below CT	25 minHighest 6% below CT
Work from home	11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16%	9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Bristol 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	#115 of 149 in CT	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol School District	Putnam School District
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	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.