Compare towns
Danielson vs Derby vs Putnam vs Sterling
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).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
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 | Derby | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209 |
12,487Highest |
9,292 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±4.9 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Putnam 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
| Sterling and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
— |
| Derby and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,009 40% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Derby School District | Putnam School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
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.