Compare towns
Cromwell vs Putnam vs Portland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cromwell has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Portland has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
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 | Cromwell | Putnam | Portland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,334Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,434 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.5 6% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
41.6±2Lowest about the CT average |
| Putnam and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.3%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Cromwell and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
52.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.6%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,596±$10k 15% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$118,929±$15kHighest 24% above CT |
| Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,200±$22k 11% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$337,400±$36kHighest 8% below CT |
| Portland and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$154Highest 9% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,129±$62Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,137 8% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,461Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Cromwell and Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.5%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Portland and Cromwell 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 | #69 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #61 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Cromwell School District | Putnam School District | Portland School District |
| High school in town | Cromwell High School | Putnam High School | Portland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.