Compare towns
Danielson vs Willimantic 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Willimantic | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,209 |
18,096Highest |
9,292 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 34.5±3.6 16% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Putnam and Sterling 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% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Danielson 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% |
24.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.2%±6.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,050±$15k 33% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,600±$13k 39% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% 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±$194Highest 17% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
— |
| Danielson and Putnam 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 |
$4,678Highest 30% 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% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1953 14 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 |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Putnam School District | Sterling 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 | 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.