Compare towns
Canton vs Ashford vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Canton | Ashford | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,226Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Canton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Ashford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Ashford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Canton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Ashford 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Ashford School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Highest |
— | 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.