Compare towns
Danielson vs Brookfield vs Putnam vs Willington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Danielson | Brookfield | Putnam | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209Lowest |
17,706Highest |
9,292 |
5,575 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
| Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±6.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Willington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
33.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,357±$116 9% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009 40% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,419 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
13% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
64% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Willington 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 | — | #67 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Brookfield School District | Putnam School District | Willington School District |
| High school in town | — | Brookfield High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.