Compare towns
Colebrook vs Derby 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%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Derby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
12,487Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Colebrook and Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Colebrook 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Derby and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Putnam 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Derby School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
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.