Compare towns
Chester vs Griswold vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Griswold has the most homeowners (73.3%).
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 | Chester | Griswold | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,825Lowest |
11,530Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Chester and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chester and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chester School District | Griswold School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Griswold High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
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.