Compare towns
Colebrook vs Chester vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Colebrook | Chester | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
3,825 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 52.1±5 27% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Chester and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$109,191±$18k 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Colebrook and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Chester and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211 7% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #8 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Chester School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.