Compare towns
Canterbury vs Suffield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Canterbury | Suffield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,124Lowest |
15,702Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Canterbury and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Suffield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140 38% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Suffield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.