Compare towns
Canton vs Brookfield 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%).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Brookfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
17,706Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Canton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Canton 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% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2% CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Brookfield 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 |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Brookfield 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±$24k 8% above CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Brookfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 9% above CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Brookfield 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Brookfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Canton High School | Brookfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
12.7Highest |
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.