Compare towns
Danielson vs Putnam vs Salem
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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Salem has the most people working from home (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 | Danielson | Putnam | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,209Lowest |
9,292Highest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Putnam and Salem 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Salem 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Salem 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 |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Danielson and Putnam 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% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Salem 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | None in town |
| 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.